NYT (p) 4:49 ... LAT (p) 2:40 ... CS (p) 2:39 ... ND (p) 2:43
Happy New Year! Patrick Berry got us all some gifts.
Monday, 12/28/09
NYT (p) 2:13 ... LAT 1:44 ... CS 1:50 ... ND 1:36 ... JON 2:20 ... BEQ 4:14 ... TPP 2:03
I'm several days behind reading the other blogs... maybe I'll catch up today.
I'm several days behind reading the other blogs... maybe I'll catch up today.
Sunday, 12/27/09
NYT (p) 8:25 ... LAT 4:50 ... MR (p) 6:45 ... BG (p) 7:08 ... ND 3:47 ... CS 3:06 Diagramless (p) 8:40 ...
Did everyone know that Elizabeth Gorski has a new crossword blog? Jim Horne slipped it into his blogroll, and so will I.
...Cool, Liz has another NYT New Year's offering! I found this weekend's WSJ puzzle, but put it under Friday for the sake of organization.
Did everyone know that Elizabeth Gorski has a new crossword blog? Jim Horne slipped it into his blogroll, and so will I.
...Cool, Liz has another NYT New Year's offering! I found this weekend's WSJ puzzle, but put it under Friday for the sake of organization.
Friday, 12/25/09
NYT 3:46 ... LAT 3:01 ... CS 1:49 ... ND 2:34 ... BEQ 2:55 ... WSJ (p) 8:10 ... DB 4:22 ... MGWC 4:48
Merry Christmas y'all!
Merry Christmas y'all!
Monday, 12/21/09
NYT 1:31 ... LAT 1:41 ... CS 1:47 ... ND 1:47 ... JON 2:07 ... BEQ 2:40
Back home in San Francisco for a couple weeks!
Back home in San Francisco for a couple weeks!
Sunday, 12/20/09
NYT 5:35 ... LAT 4:01 ... MR 4:22 ... BG 5:08 ... ND 3:36 ... LATB 4:46 ... CS 2:47 ... Acrostic 6:20
Saturday, 12/19/09
NYT 5:38 ... LAT 2:57 ... CS 1:47 ... ND 3:09
I may not get to the Sunday puzzles until I arrive in San Francisco Sunday night. Home for the holidays! (Though Chanukah's over.)
I may not get to the Sunday puzzles until I arrive in San Francisco Sunday night. Home for the holidays! (Though Chanukah's over.)
Friday, 12/18/09
NYT 4:24 ... LAT 2:59 ... CS 1:42 ... ND 2:12 ... BEQ 2:44 ... WSJ 6:14 ... DB 4:16 ... MGWC 4:47
Wednesday, 12/16/09
NYT 2:51 ... LAT 2:20 ... CS 2:10 ... ND 1:50 ... BEQ 3:09
So yesterday was my one-year "blog"giversary. I missed it because I checked the date on Monday night -- when it was still 12/14 -- and thought, "OK, it's not the 15th yet". Whoops. Thanks for visiting, and I'll keep posting my times as long as I'm not bored with the daily puzzles (and the real blogs that cover them). No promises about additional content... but who knows.
So yesterday was my one-year "blog"giversary. I missed it because I checked the date on Monday night -- when it was still 12/14 -- and thought, "OK, it's not the 15th yet". Whoops. Thanks for visiting, and I'll keep posting my times as long as I'm not bored with the daily puzzles (and the real blogs that cover them). No promises about additional content... but who knows.
Friday, 12/11/09
NYT 2:59 ... LAT 2:01 ... CS 1:36 ... ND 1:58 ... CHE 4:27 ... BEQ 2:45 ... WSJ 5:52 ... DB 5:44 ... MGWC 4:25
Wow, BEQ's Chronicle puzzle killed me. It's the hardest CHE puzzle in the year I've been keeping track. "Blog"giversary coming up soon!
Wow, BEQ's Chronicle puzzle killed me. It's the hardest CHE puzzle in the year I've been keeping track. "Blog"giversary coming up soon!
Thursday, 12/10/09
NYT 2:43 ... LAT 2:03 ... CS 1:36 ... ND 1:42
I've got a new puzzle project besides dethroning Tyler in February... Patrick Blindauer at Sterling hooked me up with a gig writing a word-search book for their bargain books division. Once the paperwork goes through, I'll be coming up with 166 fun categories to strew about in a sea of letters -- or rather, have Crossword Compiler strew them for me. If you've got a set of words you've always wanted to see in a word search (hah), let me know...
I've got a new puzzle project besides dethroning Tyler in February... Patrick Blindauer at Sterling hooked me up with a gig writing a word-search book for their bargain books division. Once the paperwork goes through, I'll be coming up with 166 fun categories to strew about in a sea of letters -- or rather, have Crossword Compiler strew them for me. If you've got a set of words you've always wanted to see in a word search (hah), let me know...
Tuesday, 12/8/09
NYT 1:24 ... LAT 1:40 ... CS 2:20 ... ND 1:29 ... BT 2:43 ... TO 2:47 ... joon 4:25
When I saw what Joe Krozel had cooked up, I started solving with only the Across clues - type, Enter, type, Enter, etc. The only names I needed help with from the Downs were Diderot and country singer Bryan. Put in Sarah for Hughes out of habit, briefly forgot Resnik, and I always think Mrs. McKinley was named Ada. Can't believe I haven't learned that one by now...
When I saw what Joe Krozel had cooked up, I started solving with only the Across clues - type, Enter, type, Enter, etc. The only names I needed help with from the Downs were Diderot and country singer Bryan. Put in Sarah for Hughes out of habit, briefly forgot Resnik, and I always think Mrs. McKinley was named Ada. Can't believe I haven't learned that one by now...
Sunday, 12/6/09
NYT 7:09 ... LAT 4:54 ... MR 4:45 ... BG 4:48 ... ND 3:48 ... LATB 5:05 ... CS 2:14 ... Acrostic 12:40
Friday, 12/4/09
NYT 2:52 ... LAT 2:42 ... CS 1:43 ... ND 2:08 ... CHE 2:37 ... BEQ 2:31 ... WSJ 5:49 ... DB 4:50 ... MGWC 4:54
Sunday, 11/29/09
NYT (p) 7:23 ... LAT 5:04 ... MR (p) 7:27 ... BG (p) 7:40 ... ND 4:27 ... CS 3:58 ... P&A pass
Friday, 11/27/09
NYT 2:46 ... LAT 2:17 ... CS 1:57 ... ND 1:41 ... CHE 2:39 ... BEQ 4:01 ... WSJ 7:15 ... DB 4:24 ... MGWC 3:44
Wednesday, 11/25/09
NYT (p) 2:34 ... LAT (p) 2:33 ... CS (p) 2:22 ... ND (p) 2:21 ... BEQ (p) 5:31
Because you're my friends and you're trying to help me with my problem, I'm not going to mention the Universal puzzle that crossed OOOLA with OOOOO. Instead, I'll just note that I printed out all 44 of The Week's current-events crosswords yesterday. Mmm, mmm, Gordon.
Because you're my friends and you're trying to help me with my problem, I'm not going to mention the Universal puzzle that crossed OOOLA with OOOOO. Instead, I'll just note that I printed out all 44 of The Week's current-events crosswords yesterday. Mmm, mmm, Gordon.
Monday, 11/23/09
NYT 1:54 ... LAT 1:30 ... CS 1:43 ... ND 1:35 ... JON 2:36 ... BEQ 2:04
I might not have noticed this if I hadn't solved both puzzles on the same day. The Universal Syndicate puzzles of 11/10 ("Weather Watch" by Kelly Mellon) and 11/22 ("How's the Weather" by Mark Howard) have identical theme answers and grid design, but only one identically-filled corner. I wonder if either of those "constructors" are real people.
Meanwhile... clearly Rich Norris has once again run out of Monday puzzles. Ouch.
I might not have noticed this if I hadn't solved both puzzles on the same day. The Universal Syndicate puzzles of 11/10 ("Weather Watch" by Kelly Mellon) and 11/22 ("How's the Weather" by Mark Howard) have identical theme answers and grid design, but only one identically-filled corner. I wonder if either of those "constructors" are real people.
Meanwhile... clearly Rich Norris has once again run out of Monday puzzles. Ouch.
Sunday, 11/22/09
NYT 5:43 ... LAT 4:32 ... MR 4:52 ... BG 6:49 ... ND 3:25 ... LATB 5:11 ... CS 2:34 ... Acrostic 21:00
Friday, 11/20/09
NYT 2:53 ... LAT 2:02 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 2:39 ... CHE 2:46 ... BEQ 3:31 ... WSJ 4:45 ... DB 5:03 ... MGWC 4:12
Yesterday I sent Peter Gordon a request for a Fireball Crosswords custom entry -- a semi-obscure TV show that's 15 letters long. Turns out that it's one of his favorite shows too, and he was already considering a theme using it! Back to the drawing board...
Yesterday I sent Peter Gordon a request for a Fireball Crosswords custom entry -- a semi-obscure TV show that's 15 letters long. Turns out that it's one of his favorite shows too, and he was already considering a theme using it! Back to the drawing board...
Sunday, 11/15/09
NYT 7:09 ... LAT 5:31 ... MR 4:45 ... BG 5:22 ... ND 3:53 ... CS 2:14 ... Diagramless 9:20
I had to guess about 7 different consonants at box 103 to finish the NYT. Loved the themes from Reagle and Hook.
I had to guess about 7 different consonants at box 103 to finish the NYT. Loved the themes from Reagle and Hook.
Friday, 11/13/09
NYT (p) 6:24 ... LAT (p) 2:54 ... CS (p) 2:13 ... ND (p) 3:21 ... CHE (p) 3:10 ... BEQ (p) 4:08 ... WSJ (p) 7:18 ... DB (p) 5:49 ... MGWC 4:05
Thursday, 11/12/09
NYT 3:16 ... LAT 1:50 ... CS 1:58 ... ND 1:46
Excellent CS debut from Tyler Hinman! I think that guy is good at crosswords.
Excellent CS debut from Tyler Hinman! I think that guy is good at crosswords.
Tuesday, 11/10/09
NYT (p) 2:36 ... LAT (p) 2:05 ... CS (p) 2:40 ... ND (p) 2:02 ... BT (p) 4:02 ... TO (p) 3:14
Monday, 11/9/09
NYT 1:36 ... LAT (p) 2:06 ... CS (p) 2:12 ... ND (p) 1:56 ... JON (p) 3:15 ... BEQ (p) 4:30*
Tired after actually working all day... I'll catch up tomorrow. Meanwhile, this blog received its first spam comment today! I have truly arrived.
Tired after actually working all day... I'll catch up tomorrow. Meanwhile, this blog received its first spam comment today! I have truly arrived.
Sunday, 11/8/09
NYT 5:01 ... LAT 3:33 ... MR 5:12 ... BG 5:22 ... ND 4:16 ... LATB 4:15 ... CS 2:02... Acrostic 8:05
Saturday, 11/7/09
NYT (p) 14:46 ... LAT (p) 3:12 ... CS (p) 5:22 ... ND (p) 6:19
Thought it would be a good idea to solve on paper, since I heard we were in for a Wrath of Klahn. Not so much! I had lots of guessing and erasing in the SW corner, which took up half my time: several tries at [Sink]; SIMILE for CLICHE; WRECK for CRATE; AMARETTO for TIA MARIA (which doesn't make sense); EDNA for EDIE; RIOT for ROAR... Managed to retrieve ODALISQUE, but should have gotten the relatively straightforward ROMANTIC and SCORCHER much sooner; EL DORADO finally broke the logjam. This would have been a perfect puzzle to practice on a big dry-erase board! Maybe I can borrow Thomas Snyder's.
Thought it would be a good idea to solve on paper, since I heard we were in for a Wrath of Klahn. Not so much! I had lots of guessing and erasing in the SW corner, which took up half my time: several tries at [Sink]; SIMILE for CLICHE; WRECK for CRATE; AMARETTO for TIA MARIA (which doesn't make sense); EDNA for EDIE; RIOT for ROAR... Managed to retrieve ODALISQUE, but should have gotten the relatively straightforward ROMANTIC and SCORCHER much sooner; EL DORADO finally broke the logjam. This would have been a perfect puzzle to practice on a big dry-erase board! Maybe I can borrow Thomas Snyder's.
Friday, 11/6/09
NYT 3:25 ... LAT 1:54 ... CS 1:58 ... ND 2:22 ... CHE 2:09 ... BEQ 3:24 ... WSJ 4:57 ... DB 4:40 ... MGWC 2:31
Tuesday, 11/3/09
NYT 2:23 ... LAT 1:36 ... CS 1:43 ... ND 1:41 ... BT 3:35 ... TO 3:50
To my surprise, I solved all of Matt Gaffney's "Hell Month" metapuzzles! (Pending Joon's reveal today... but I'm pretty sure I got it.) Usually I fail to grok the hard metas, so either I'm getting better at Puzzle Hunt-style thinking, or the guaranteed prize was enough to keep me from giving up too soon this time.
To my surprise, I solved all of Matt Gaffney's "Hell Month" metapuzzles! (Pending Joon's reveal today... but I'm pretty sure I got it.) Usually I fail to grok the hard metas, so either I'm getting better at Puzzle Hunt-style thinking, or the guaranteed prize was enough to keep me from giving up too soon this time.
Monday, 11/2/09
NYT 1:47 ... LAT 1:31 ... CS 2:04 ... ND 1:16 ... JON 1:56 ... BEQ 3:03
Breaking news from the NPL mini-con! Peter Gordon is preparing to launch a weekly subscription crossword next year, hoping to attract enough subscribers to support a daily puzzle (and ideally, pay constructors $201!). All of us on the "Sunrise" email list will get an official notification once Peter's gotten everything set up.
Important clarification to the above! I failed to note that Peter's doing all the constructing himself for the time being. Don't start sending him theme ideas. Sorry...
Breaking news from the NPL mini-con! Peter Gordon is preparing to launch a weekly subscription crossword next year, hoping to attract enough subscribers to support a daily puzzle (and ideally, pay constructors $201!). All of us on the "Sunrise" email list will get an official notification once Peter's gotten everything set up.
Important clarification to the above! I failed to note that Peter's doing all the constructing himself for the time being. Don't start sending him theme ideas. Sorry...
Sunday, 11/1/09
NYT (p) 9:06 ... LAT 4:58 ... ND 3:52 ... MR (p) 7:18 ... BG (p) 9:43 ... CS 2:35 ... Vowel Play untimed
(Can someone send me the NYT Second Sunday PDF? Can't get to it for some reason.) ... got it, thanks!
(Can someone send me the NYT Second Sunday PDF? Can't get to it for some reason.) ... got it, thanks!
Saturday, 10/31/09
NYT 5:39 ... LAT 2:09 ... CS 1:59 ... ND 7:23
I was ready to note the disappointingly easy Stumper after the top half took me 2-3 minutes... but the SW and especially SE were nice and sticky!
I was ready to note the disappointingly easy Stumper after the top half took me 2-3 minutes... but the SW and especially SE were nice and sticky!
Friday, 10/30/09
NYT 4:04 ... LAT 2:05 ... CS 2:04 ... ND 2:48 ... CHE 3:03 ... BEQ 4:48 ... WSJ 4:57 ... DB 4:00 ... MGWC 11:30 (with an error somewhere)
You can make fun of me for (sometimes!!) solving the Parker puzzles, but few of those are as awful as today's Newsday. Talk about a gimmick doing nothing for solver enjoyment. Meanwhile, the LAT puzzle doesn't seem to have gotten any more difficult, as promised -- but at least the clues are much more interesting than they were.
You can make fun of me for (sometimes!!) solving the Parker puzzles, but few of those are as awful as today's Newsday. Talk about a gimmick doing nothing for solver enjoyment. Meanwhile, the LAT puzzle doesn't seem to have gotten any more difficult, as promised -- but at least the clues are much more interesting than they were.
Sunday, 10/25/09
NYT 5:45 ... LAT 3:58 ... MR 5:55 ... BG 4:01 ... ND 4:21 ... LATB 6:22 ... CS 2:50 ... Acrostic 11:55
This is approximately my two-year puzzling anniversary -- Wordplay aired on PBS on 10/16/07 (according to Orange's archives), but it was a week or so before I watched it and went online to discover all the wonderful crossword websites and free puzzles. Now that I think about it, if EW hadn't spotlighted that broadcast in their "What to Watch" section, I might not be here with you all today...
Sunday NYT: oh that BEQ, always at the bleeding edge! I had an advantage because I remembered his blog about the quote -- but then again, everyone else reads his site too.
This is approximately my two-year puzzling anniversary -- Wordplay aired on PBS on 10/16/07 (according to Orange's archives), but it was a week or so before I watched it and went online to discover all the wonderful crossword websites and free puzzles. Now that I think about it, if EW hadn't spotlighted that broadcast in their "What to Watch" section, I might not be here with you all today...
Sunday NYT: oh that BEQ, always at the bleeding edge! I had an advantage because I remembered his blog about the quote -- but then again, everyone else reads his site too.
Saturday, 10/24/09
NYT 5:33 ... LAT 2:49 ... CS 1:54 ... ND 3:34
As usual, I was not really on Paula's wavelength, but definitely on Doug's! Can't believe I've never seen Doug's super-fresh 8-Down in a puzzle before.
As usual, I was not really on Paula's wavelength, but definitely on Doug's! Can't believe I've never seen Doug's super-fresh 8-Down in a puzzle before.
Friday, 10/23/09
NYT 3:59 ... LAT 2:19 ... CS 1:36 ... ND 2:46 ... CHE 2:25 ... BEQ 3:40 ... WSJ 6:31 ... DB 5:26 ... MGWC 7:45
Now that I've got a new computer, I'll probably go back to doing most solving online.
Now that I've got a new computer, I'll probably go back to doing most solving online.
Wednesday, 10/21/09
NYT (p) 2:51 ... LAT (p) 2:40 ... CS (p) 2:28 ... ND (p) 2:03 ... BEQ (p) 3:58*
And now to check my guesses on the BEQ puzzle...
... 0-for-3! But I suppose that was the point.
And now to check my guesses on the BEQ puzzle...
... 0-for-3! But I suppose that was the point.
Tuesday, 10/20/09
NYT (p) 2:20 ... LAT (p) 2:08 ... CS (p) 2:08 ... ND (p) 1:52 ... BT (p) 3:55 ... TO (p) 3:44
Monday, 10/19/09
NYT (p) 2:17 ... LAT (p) 2:13 ... CS (p) 2:06 ... ND (p) 1:44 ... JON (p) 3:41 ... BEQ (p) 3:39
Sunday, 10/18/09
NYT (p) 7:49 ... LAT (p) 4:54 ... ND (p) 5:10 ... MR (p) 7:32 ... BG (p) 7:00 ... CS (p) 2:45 ... Cryptic (p) 10:50
Finally got under 5 minutes on a 21x21!
Finally got under 5 minutes on a 21x21!
Saturday, 10/17/09
NYT (p) 6:14 ... LAT (p) 2:29 ... CS (p) 2:11 ... ND (p) 7:16
So I heard a rumor at Lollapuzzoola that the Newsday Saturday Stumper would be easing up in difficulty, starting in October. Can't remember who told me, but he'd heard it from Stanley Newman. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening. Maybe there are a few more gimme clues to get started, but overall I haven't noticed much of a change.
So I heard a rumor at Lollapuzzoola that the Newsday Saturday Stumper would be easing up in difficulty, starting in October. Can't remember who told me, but he'd heard it from Stanley Newman. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening. Maybe there are a few more gimme clues to get started, but overall I haven't noticed much of a change.
Friday, 10/16/09
NYT (p) 6:14 ... LAT (p) 2:45 ... CS (p) 2:19 ... ND (p) 2:42 ... CHE (p) 3:06 ... BEQ (p) 4:07 ... WSJ (p) 6:31 ... DB (p) 6:12 ... MGWC (p) 7:10
Wednesday, 10/14/09
NYT (p) 2:40 ... LAT (p) 2:25 ... CS (p) 2:32 ... ND (p) 2:06 ... BEQ (p) 4:27
Sorry I've not been very chatty. I feel like, if I have something to say, I should post it where it will be read a bit more widely! So far I've managed to keep traffic here nice and low. However, I may start trying to write something more substantial (about crosswords, or the speed-solving thereof) once in a while. First up: How barreling through the Simon & Schuster series has made me a better solver.
Sorry I've not been very chatty. I feel like, if I have something to say, I should post it where it will be read a bit more widely! So far I've managed to keep traffic here nice and low. However, I may start trying to write something more substantial (about crosswords, or the speed-solving thereof) once in a while. First up: How barreling through the Simon & Schuster series has made me a better solver.
Tuesday, 10/13/09
NYT (p) 2:25 ... LAT (p) 2:01 ... CS (p) 2:21 ... ND (p) 2:00 ... BT (p) 4:23 ... TO (p) 3:17
Monday, 10/12/09
NYT (p) 2:06 ... LAT (p) 1:55 ... CS (p) 2:21 ... ND (p) 1:58 ... JON (p) 3:08 ... BEQ (p) 3:38
Sunday, 10/11/09
NYT (p) 8:35 ... LAT (p) 6:02 ... MR (p) 7:45 ... BG (p) 7:01 ... ND (p) 5:55 ... LATB (p) 6:11 ... CS (p) 4:27 ... Acrostic 17:05
Friday, 10/9/09
NYT (p) 5:06 ... LAT (p) 2:33 ... CS (p) 2:10 ... ND (p) 2:52 ... CHE (p) 3:31 ... BEQ (p) 3:45 ... WSJ (p) 6:48 ... DB (p) 5:50 ... MGWC (p) 3:21
Tuesday, 10/6/09
NYT (p) 2:29 ... LAT (p) 2:19 ... CS (p) 2:26 ... ND (p) 1:58 ... BT (p) 2:57 ... TO (p) 5:13
Monday, 10/5/09
NYT (p) 2:08 ... LAT (p) 1:53 ... CS (p) 2:49 ... ND (p) 1:49 ... JON (p) 3:17 ... BEQ (p) 4:07
Sunday, 10/4/09
NYT (p) 7:09 ... LAT 4:09 ... ND 4:18 ... BG (p) 7:39 ... MR (p) 7:32 ... CS 2:30 ... Diagramless (p) 7:10
Friday, 10/2/09
NYT (p) 4:07 ... LAT (p) 2:38 ... CS (p) 2:20 ... ND (p) 2:26 ... CHE (p) 3:52 ... BEQ (p) 3:45 ... WSJ (p) 8:02 ... DB (p) 6:48 ... MGWC 2:31 PB2 (p) 5:15 ...
Tonight's the night! Tune in tomorrow to find out how much of my crossword skill resides in my hair.
Tonight's the night! Tune in tomorrow to find out how much of my crossword skill resides in my hair.
Thursday, 10/1/09
NYT (p) 3:55 ... LAT 1:49 ... CS 1:42 ... ND 1:46
Solved the NYT at Pleasantville. Had the advantage of seeing the grid (on the three whiteboards) before trying the puzzle itself, so I was more than ready for some trickery.
Solved the NYT at Pleasantville. Had the advantage of seeing the grid (on the three whiteboards) before trying the puzzle itself, so I was more than ready for some trickery.
Wednesday, 9/30/09
NYT (p) 2:41 ... LAT 1:37 ... CS 1:54 ... ND 1:47 ... BEQ 2:56
Solved the NYT at the Pleasantville tourney.
Even if you don't read Crossword Corner regularly, it's worth checking in occasionally for C.C.'s interviews with constructors -- over two dozen so far, helpfully listed in the sidebar. Latest guest? Patrick Berry.
Solved the NYT at the Pleasantville tourney.
Even if you don't read Crossword Corner regularly, it's worth checking in occasionally for C.C.'s interviews with constructors -- over two dozen so far, helpfully listed in the sidebar. Latest guest? Patrick Berry.
Tuesday, 9/29/09
NYT (p) 2:34 ... LAT (p) 1:56 ... CS (p) 2:35 ... ND (p) 2:03 ... BT (p) 3:53 ... TO (p) 3:34
Solved the NYT at Pleasantville. Finally caught up with the Sunday puzzles. I know you all were on tenterhooks. Can we get TENTERHOOKS in a grid?
Solved the NYT at Pleasantville. Finally caught up with the Sunday puzzles. I know you all were on tenterhooks. Can we get TENTERHOOKS in a grid?
Monday, 9/28/09
NYT (p) 2:15 ... LAT (p) 1:57 ... CS (p) 1:59 ... ND (p) 2:07 ... JON (p) 3:18 ... BEQ (p) 3:51
Solved the NYT at the Pleasantville tournament.
Solved the NYT at the Pleasantville tournament.
Sunday, 9/27/09
NYT (p) 10:57 ... LAT (p) 5:50 ... MR (p) 7:09 ... BG (p) 5:58 ... ND (p) 5:12 ... LATB (p) 6:45 ... CS (p) 3:01 ... Acrostic 14:30
Finally, some use for the slightly organized data on this site! I can definitively say that this is the hardest Sunday NYT in the last 10 months. (And I loved it.)
Don't think I will have a long-form recap of Pleasantville, so let's see about some random thoughts:
--Of course, it was much fun to see the usual NYC-area suspects! Howard B and Adam C were the other "A" solvers helping to judge. (Also Ellen and Frank Longo, who wouldn't be eligible anyway due to having edited the puzzles...)
--I solved in the back room, so I'll have times to report this week. They're all above-average puzzles by star constructors.
--Glad to see Jeffurry win, after four previous stints at the Big Board. Good karma for Al Sanders?
--Went to Will's house for the afterparty, but didn't get a tour or anything (he did show off a few pieces of memorabilia). I heard Will say to Nancy Schuster, "I don't like him, or his puzzles" -- but darnit, didn't catch who he was talking about! Well, I wouldn't share that even if I knew. Like I won't share some details I heard about Half-Century Puzzlemakers' Week. Here's a tidbit, though: Will has apparently run out of Diagramless puzzles. At least until he starts opening up the last few months' worth of mail...
Finally, some use for the slightly organized data on this site! I can definitively say that this is the hardest Sunday NYT in the last 10 months. (And I loved it.)
Don't think I will have a long-form recap of Pleasantville, so let's see about some random thoughts:
--Of course, it was much fun to see the usual NYC-area suspects! Howard B and Adam C were the other "A" solvers helping to judge. (Also Ellen and Frank Longo, who wouldn't be eligible anyway due to having edited the puzzles...)
--I solved in the back room, so I'll have times to report this week. They're all above-average puzzles by star constructors.
--Glad to see Jeffurry win, after four previous stints at the Big Board. Good karma for Al Sanders?
--Went to Will's house for the afterparty, but didn't get a tour or anything (he did show off a few pieces of memorabilia). I heard Will say to Nancy Schuster, "I don't like him, or his puzzles" -- but darnit, didn't catch who he was talking about! Well, I wouldn't share that even if I knew. Like I won't share some details I heard about Half-Century Puzzlemakers' Week. Here's a tidbit, though: Will has apparently run out of Diagramless puzzles. At least until he starts opening up the last few months' worth of mail...
Saturday, 9/26/09
NYT 5:14 ... LAT 1:35 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 2:59
I saw that Joon had today's NYT, and decided not to wait until tomorrow. Had to submit three times - first two were for empty squares, and my actual mistake was GREAT instead of DREAM in 37D. I'll write about the Pleasantville tournament in the morning. (Maybe.)
...OK, yeah, that's the easiest Saturday LAT in history.
I saw that Joon had today's NYT, and decided not to wait until tomorrow. Had to submit three times - first two were for empty squares, and my actual mistake was GREAT instead of DREAM in 37D. I'll write about the Pleasantville tournament in the morning. (Maybe.)
...OK, yeah, that's the easiest Saturday LAT in history.
Friday, 9/25/09
NYT (p) 4:21 ... LAT (p) 2:27 ... CS (p) 2:23 ... ND (p) 2:39 ... CHE (p) 3:20 ... BEQ (p) 6:48 ... WSJ (p) 8:15 ... DB (p) 6:12 ... MGWCC (p) 6:11
Quite a bonanza today! Two puzzles left over from yesterday, and the nine regular Friday puzzles include bonus BEQ and a sweet Gaffney themeless.
Quite a bonanza today! Two puzzles left over from yesterday, and the nine regular Friday puzzles include bonus BEQ and a sweet Gaffney themeless.
Thursday, 9/24/09
NYT (p) 3:19 ... LAT (p) 2:28 ... CS (p) 2:32 ... ND (p) 2:24
Planning to go to the Pleasantville tournament Friday night. Not to compete, just to hang out with the puzzlin' crowd...
Planning to go to the Pleasantville tournament Friday night. Not to compete, just to hang out with the puzzlin' crowd...
Wednesday, 9/23/09
NYT (p) 2:28 ... LAT (p) 2:05 ... CS (p) 2:04 ... ND (p) 2:35 ... BEQ (p) 2:47 ... TPP (p) 7:37
Hmm, is the LAT's 48-Down clue a bit of meta-commentary?
update: I wanted to save Trip's new record-tying 21x21 for the weekend, but couldn't help myself. Amazing! This guy should write puzzles for a living. My only hiccup was the intersection of 1A and 1D. 88A made me giggle -- and then cry out the answer, like in the commercial.
Hmm, is the LAT's 48-Down clue a bit of meta-commentary?
update: I wanted to save Trip's new record-tying 21x21 for the weekend, but couldn't help myself. Amazing! This guy should write puzzles for a living. My only hiccup was the intersection of 1A and 1D. 88A made me giggle -- and then cry out the answer, like in the commercial.
Tuesday, 9/22/09
NYT (p) 2:25 ... LAT (p) 1:59 ... CS (p) 2:23 ... ND (p) 1:38 ... BT (p) 3:29 ... TO (p) 3:13
Still haven't been able to finish Sunday's Split Decisions! (Or, for that matter, any of the Kaidokus I've made occasional stabs at. In case you guys were wondering why you never see me over there.)
Still haven't been able to finish Sunday's Split Decisions! (Or, for that matter, any of the Kaidokus I've made occasional stabs at. In case you guys were wondering why you never see me over there.)
Monday, 9/21/09
NYT (p) 1:58 ... LAT (p) 2:16 ... CS (p) 2:22 ... ND (p) 1:56 ... BEQ (p) 4:55 ... JON tba
Sunday, 9/20/09
NYT 4:54 ... LAT (p) 5:47 ... MR (p) 6:58 ... BG (p) 6:35 ... ND (p) 5:32 ... CS (p) 3:20 ... Split Decisions infinity
Apparently G's computer and the NYT applet clock aren't getting along any better than they did a couple weeks ago. I'll go with the faster time...
Apparently G's computer and the NYT applet clock aren't getting along any better than they did a couple weeks ago. I'll go with the faster time...
Saturday, 9/19/09
NYT 5:19* ... LAT 2:27 ... CS 1:59 ... ND 5:42
Boooooo! Bad enough to take away my Saturday NYT, but to replace it with Puns & Anagrams? Booooo. At least Doug had a real Saturday puzzle for us today!
Boooooo! Bad enough to take away my Saturday NYT, but to replace it with Puns & Anagrams? Booooo. At least Doug had a real Saturday puzzle for us today!
Friday, 9/18/09
NYT (p) 4:12 ... LAT (p) 2:41 ... CS (p) 2:30 ... ND (p) 2:43 ... BEQ (p) 5:18 ... CHE (p) 3:03 ... WSJ (p) 6:49 ... DB (p) 5:16 ... MGWC (p) 7:29 ... Calif. (p) 9:46
Thanks Al for the pointer to Tyler's Bay Area tournament puzzle! It's definitely Sunday NYT quality, and clearly on the Challenging side. I'm embarrassed that I couldn't remember Google's "Don't be ___".
Irony alert: 6-Down in today's Newsday. Right? ... I intended to save the CHE for tomorrow, but couldn't help myself when I saw the Berry byline.
Thanks Al for the pointer to Tyler's Bay Area tournament puzzle! It's definitely Sunday NYT quality, and clearly on the Challenging side. I'm embarrassed that I couldn't remember Google's "Don't be ___".
Irony alert: 6-Down in today's Newsday. Right? ... I intended to save the CHE for tomorrow, but couldn't help myself when I saw the Berry byline.
Wednesday, 9/16/09
NYT (p) 2:31 ... LAT (p) 2:10 ... CS 2:41 ... ND 1:51 ... BEQ 3:44
Words I Learned Recently From Timothy Parker:
VARRO - [Roman "Menippean Satires" writer]
EDDO - [Edible tuber]
NUMBAT - [Termite-eating Australian marsupial]
Words I Learned Recently From Timothy Parker:
VARRO - [Roman "Menippean Satires" writer]
EDDO - [Edible tuber]
NUMBAT - [Termite-eating Australian marsupial]
Tuesday, 9/15/09
NYT (p) 2:24 ... LAT (p) 2:05 ... CS (p) 2:13 ... ND (p) 2:06 ... BT 3:35 ... TO 3:46
One little problem with Tausig's puzzle: the intersection of DI* and *ATRI could legitimately be either an M or a P! I guessed the wrong one at first, which is why I even noticed. Couldn't [Not the sharpest knife in the drawer] be a noun phrase, cluing the slangy DIP? But that's not an issue for the vast majority solving on paper.
Many problems with the Onion puzzle, starting with a flat-out blooper at 6-Across. It's an awesome clue, but the "character" is indisputably spelled ZUUL, not ZOOL. I also found the theme nonsensical, and frowned on the crossing of POMI and IANDI (I played "mash the keyboard" to get Mr. Happy Pencil). At least ALCALA's crossings were straightforward...
One little problem with Tausig's puzzle: the intersection of DI* and *ATRI could legitimately be either an M or a P! I guessed the wrong one at first, which is why I even noticed. Couldn't [Not the sharpest knife in the drawer] be a noun phrase, cluing the slangy DIP? But that's not an issue for the vast majority solving on paper.
Many problems with the Onion puzzle, starting with a flat-out blooper at 6-Across. It's an awesome clue, but the "character" is indisputably spelled ZUUL, not ZOOL. I also found the theme nonsensical, and frowned on the crossing of POMI and IANDI (I played "mash the keyboard" to get Mr. Happy Pencil). At least ALCALA's crossings were straightforward...
Monday, 9/14/09
NYT 1:42 ... LAT (p) 2:02 ... CS (p) 2:24 ... ND (p) 2:06 ... JON (p) 3:14 ... BEQ (p) 5:20
I solved the NYT last night because I couldn't wait to find out about this week's constructors. My first guess was three sets of parents/children, or just seniors, but the "Fifty-Year Club" is even cooler. I just hope the puzzles are fun, especially the themelesses (though I'm sure Charles Gersch can still make a nice Saturday). Last year Will probably had plenty of submissions from teenagers, but how many of these had to be specially commissioned? Still, any kind of gimmick gets a thumbs-up from me, even if it doesn't work.
Also! Don't miss Eric Berlin's "Game Night" wrapup.
I solved the NYT last night because I couldn't wait to find out about this week's constructors. My first guess was three sets of parents/children, or just seniors, but the "Fifty-Year Club" is even cooler. I just hope the puzzles are fun, especially the themelesses (though I'm sure Charles Gersch can still make a nice Saturday). Last year Will probably had plenty of submissions from teenagers, but how many of these had to be specially commissioned? Still, any kind of gimmick gets a thumbs-up from me, even if it doesn't work.
Also! Don't miss Eric Berlin's "Game Night" wrapup.
Sunday, 9/13/09
NYT (p) 7:23 ... LAT (p) 5:18 ... BG (p) 6:14 ... MR (p) 7:26 ... ND (p) 5:50 ... LATB (p) 5:43 ... CS (p) 2:53 ... Acrostic 11:40
Friday, 9/11/09
NYT 3:08 ... LAT 2:38 ... CS (p) 2:20 ... ND (p) 3:11 ... CHE 2:34 ... BEQ (p) 4:05 ... WSJ (p) 7:17 ... DB (p) 6:02 ... MGWC 3:40
Wednesday, 9/9/09
NYT (p) 2:57 ... LAT (p) 2:30 ... CS 2:06 ... ND 1:46 ... BEQ 2:09
Okay, for the record: I'm not a regular solver of the USA Today and Universal crosswords. Really! OmniDownload brings them all to me, so occasionally I'll do a few to kill time or warm up the brain. And since my computer (and the data thereon) is still in limbo, I don't have my usual Across Lite collection to dip into.
Okay, for the record: I'm not a regular solver of the USA Today and Universal crosswords. Really! OmniDownload brings them all to me, so occasionally I'll do a few to kill time or warm up the brain. And since my computer (and the data thereon) is still in limbo, I don't have my usual Across Lite collection to dip into.
Tuesday, 9/8/09
NYT 1:58 ... LAT 1:50 ... CS 2:01 ... ND 1:37 ... BT (p) 3:05 ... TO (p) 3:16
Time to play Tyler's favorite game: Fun with Timothy Parker! Universal Crossword, 9/1/09... nice clean grid by Billie Truitt; theme phrases beginning with CARD, CAKE, PRESENT, and BIRTHDAY. And then STRIP has the clue [Don one's birthday suit]. But here's what makes it a jaw-dropping duplication: BIRTHDAY SUIT is the final theme answer, and "birthday suit" appears in the very next clue!
Time to play Tyler's favorite game: Fun with Timothy Parker! Universal Crossword, 9/1/09... nice clean grid by Billie Truitt; theme phrases beginning with CARD, CAKE, PRESENT, and BIRTHDAY. And then STRIP has the clue [Don one's birthday suit]. But here's what makes it a jaw-dropping duplication: BIRTHDAY SUIT is the final theme answer, and "birthday suit" appears in the very next clue!
Monday, 9/7/09
NYT 2:01 ... LAT 1:52 ... CS 1:50 ... ND 1:45 ... JON 2:24 ... BEQ 3:55
Back in NYC, would rather still be in Vermont...
Back in NYC, would rather still be in Vermont...
Sunday, 9/6/09
NYT (p) 9:26 ... LAT (p) 5:45 ... MR (p) 7:27 ... BG (p) 7:04 ... ND (p) 6:34 ... CS (p) 3:05 ... Cryptic (p) 9:30
Saturday, 9/5/09
NYT (whiteboard) 7:10 ... LAT 2:09 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 5:31
Oops (and yay), I forgot the house we're staying at has wireless!
morning update: while I wait for coffee and brunch to be procured, some comments on the Lollapuzzoola final-turned-NYT Saturday...
--I'm a little shocked that Will didn't change a single clue, except cosmetically. It shouldn't be because my solving time was included - solving on a big greaseboard takes much longer than solving on paper, so it's a bit apples-to-oranges anyway. By the way, I never found out at the tournament what my actual solving time was...
--Don't forget, it was very close - Francis Heaney was seven seconds behind, and I continue to believe that the podcast-related entry PAPELBON was my key to catching up...
--I'll get some photos of the final round up on Facebook, showing that I had to reboot three times before getting any connectivity. Started with SEL and educated guess ATALE in the SE, but stood pat there even though I suspected REPEL. Found the gimme GIJANE crossing SINEW in the NW, but got stuck again. Then I threw down OESTE (instead of the entirely possible NORTE) in the SE, which led to EDNA, RAN, and some long gimmes that filled in the whole quadrant fairly quickly... but I still couldn't move into the center section. So I jumped to the SW, with its friendly "Sweeney Todd" clue (it's only my favorite musical) and the knew-it-even-before-crosswords SPAHN, which led to his colleague PAPELBON. From there I don't remember my solving "route", but after the SW fell, it was smooth sailing. I did try to rush through the rest of the puzzle, since I figured I was behind after the slow start.
--sorry, I keep updating this as I remember more. I had two wrong letters while solving, possibly frightening my "fans". ON HAND for IN HAND, which didn't get corrected until the crossing entry was DOEOF; and EDBERG for ENBERG -- a trap that apparently Nothnagel didn't set intentionally! -- which didn't really cause problems either.
--Anyway, very exciting to have my name next to the NYT crossword, though I'm still hoping for a byline at some point! (It may be more exciting -- it's definitely more amusing -- that the word "Lollapuzzoola" is in the NYT.) Thanks again to Ryan, Brian, Mike, and Will...
Oops (and yay), I forgot the house we're staying at has wireless!
morning update: while I wait for coffee and brunch to be procured, some comments on the Lollapuzzoola final-turned-NYT Saturday...
--I'm a little shocked that Will didn't change a single clue, except cosmetically. It shouldn't be because my solving time was included - solving on a big greaseboard takes much longer than solving on paper, so it's a bit apples-to-oranges anyway. By the way, I never found out at the tournament what my actual solving time was...
--Don't forget, it was very close - Francis Heaney was seven seconds behind, and I continue to believe that the podcast-related entry PAPELBON was my key to catching up...
--I'll get some photos of the final round up on Facebook, showing that I had to reboot three times before getting any connectivity. Started with SEL and educated guess ATALE in the SE, but stood pat there even though I suspected REPEL. Found the gimme GIJANE crossing SINEW in the NW, but got stuck again. Then I threw down OESTE (instead of the entirely possible NORTE) in the SE, which led to EDNA, RAN, and some long gimmes that filled in the whole quadrant fairly quickly... but I still couldn't move into the center section. So I jumped to the SW, with its friendly "Sweeney Todd" clue (it's only my favorite musical) and the knew-it-even-before-crosswords SPAHN, which led to his colleague PAPELBON. From there I don't remember my solving "route", but after the SW fell, it was smooth sailing. I did try to rush through the rest of the puzzle, since I figured I was behind after the slow start.
--sorry, I keep updating this as I remember more. I had two wrong letters while solving, possibly frightening my "fans". ON HAND for IN HAND, which didn't get corrected until the crossing entry was DOEOF; and EDBERG for ENBERG -- a trap that apparently Nothnagel didn't set intentionally! -- which didn't really cause problems either.
--Anyway, very exciting to have my name next to the NYT crossword, though I'm still hoping for a byline at some point! (It may be more exciting -- it's definitely more amusing -- that the word "Lollapuzzoola" is in the NYT.) Thanks again to Ryan, Brian, Mike, and Will...
Friday, 9/4/09
NYT (p) 5:36 ... LAT (p) 2:56 ... CS (p) 2:12 ... ND (p) 3:28 ... BEQ (p) 5:44 ... WSJ (p) 6:46 ... DB (p) 6:23 ... MGWC 4:01
Going out of town for Labor Day Weekend! So I probably won't be posting until Monday night, but I might solve a few puzzles. And I'll definitely look for a copy of the Saturday NYT!
update: ooh, not only is Matt Gaffney making a 21x21 for The Daily Beast every week, but it's now available in Across Lite. So I'm officially adding it to my weekly routine!
Going out of town for Labor Day Weekend! So I probably won't be posting until Monday night, but I might solve a few puzzles. And I'll definitely look for a copy of the Saturday NYT!
update: ooh, not only is Matt Gaffney making a 21x21 for The Daily Beast every week, but it's now available in Across Lite. So I'm officially adding it to my weekly routine!
Wednesday, 9/2/09
NYT (p) 2:53 ... LAT (p) 2:14 ... CS (p) 2:13 ... ND (p) 2:04 ... BEQ (p) 6:04
Loved the NYT theme! I am always in favor of visual themes with circles... (ok, because that's the kind of idea I'm working on - and may even get to submitting fairly soon.)
Finished the Eric Berlin suite yesterday - great stuff and loads of fun. Let's see if I have better luck with that contest than Matt Gaffney's (where I'm 0-for-65)...
Loved the NYT theme! I am always in favor of visual themes with circles... (ok, because that's the kind of idea I'm working on - and may even get to submitting fairly soon.)
Finished the Eric Berlin suite yesterday - great stuff and loads of fun. Let's see if I have better luck with that contest than Matt Gaffney's (where I'm 0-for-65)...
Tuesday, 9/1/09
NYT (p) 2:29 ... LAT (p) 2:03 ... CS (p) 2:47 ... ND (p) 2:03 ... BT (p) 3:20 ... TO (p) 4:58
Monday, 8/31/09
NYT (p) 2:14 ... LAT (p) 1:57 ... CS (p) 3:34 ... ND (p) 1:59 ... JON (p) 2:38 ... BEQ (p) 3:16
Can't wait to get started on Eric Berlin's "Game Night Crosswords"! Glad I'm so busy today, or I'd be tempted to speed-solve and try to be first with the final answer.
Can't wait to get started on Eric Berlin's "Game Night Crosswords"! Glad I'm so busy today, or I'd be tempted to speed-solve and try to be first with the final answer.
Sunday, 8/30/09
NYT (p) 7:26 ... LAT 5:27 ... MR (p) 6:44 ... BG (p) 6:32 ... ND 3:58 ... LATB 4:55 ... CS 2:27 ... Acrostic ~10:00
Saturday, 8/29/09
NYT 2:58 ... LAT 2:51 ... CS 1:57 ... ND 4:02
This has to be a first! For Doug Peterson to have two puzzles published on the same day is a fairly common occurrence -- but two themelesses with identical grid designs? That's cool. I suspect that having just solved the Stumper put me in the right mindset for the NYT (second-fastest Saturday - and once again I'm posting the "timer" time, not the "posted" time. Actually, that may be my fastest Stumper, but I don't feel like checking right now).
This has to be a first! For Doug Peterson to have two puzzles published on the same day is a fairly common occurrence -- but two themelesses with identical grid designs? That's cool. I suspect that having just solved the Stumper put me in the right mindset for the NYT (second-fastest Saturday - and once again I'm posting the "timer" time, not the "posted" time. Actually, that may be my fastest Stumper, but I don't feel like checking right now).
Friday, 8/28/09
NYT 4:41 ... LAT 2:28 ... CS 2:01 ... ND 2:06 ... WSJ 5:36 ... BEQ 4:11 ... MGWC 7:11 ... DB (p) 7:07
Wednesday, 8/26/09
NYT 2:19 ... LAT 2:18 ... CS 1:43 ... ND 1:50 ... BEQ 1:40
Hey, that's the first time the NYT applet has ever posted a "wrong" time for me. The board says 2:27, the timer 2:19, and who can say what the computer is really thinking?
Hey, that's the first time the NYT applet has ever posted a "wrong" time for me. The board says 2:27, the timer 2:19, and who can say what the computer is really thinking?
Tuesday, 8/25/09
NYT 1:59 ... LAT 1:53 ... CS 1:52 ... ND 1:34 ... BT 2:47 ... TO 2:48
Breaking news from the R&B podcast! Mike Nothnagel's Lollapuzzoola final puzzle will run in the NYT on Saturday 9/5, with a blurb about the tournament, hosts, and winner's solving time.
Breaking news from the R&B podcast! Mike Nothnagel's Lollapuzzoola final puzzle will run in the NYT on Saturday 9/5, with a blurb about the tournament, hosts, and winner's solving time.
Monday, 8/24/09
NYT 1:59 ... LAT 1:38 ... CS 2:06 ... ND 1:28 ... JON 2:28
BEQ's offering today is his Lollapuzzoola construction, which I finished right around 6 minutes (iirc). Lolla puzzle PDFs and full standings are now up, with Howard again demonstrating that he's a step faster than the pack when not forced to use a dry-erase marker... :)
Hey, new comments while I was writing this! My favorite gimmick was #1 (Todd McClary), closely followed by #5 (Doug Peterson, one-upping my contribution from last year). But they were all great - Brian continues to impress as a constructor, Peter Gordon had some knotty sections that gave me more trouble (relative to the field) than anything else, BEQ always rocks, and Nothnagel's final themeless was outstanding.
I like BEQ's proposal to revisit the Guinness world record, still claimed by Stan Newman at 2:14 for a Monday NYT. I actually mentioned the idea to Brendan on Saturday, inspired by seeing Stan in competition for the first time in 20+ years. Wouldn't that be a good ACPT Saturday night activity? At least eight of us could top that record...
BEQ's offering today is his Lollapuzzoola construction, which I finished right around 6 minutes (iirc). Lolla puzzle PDFs and full standings are now up, with Howard again demonstrating that he's a step faster than the pack when not forced to use a dry-erase marker... :)
Hey, new comments while I was writing this! My favorite gimmick was #1 (Todd McClary), closely followed by #5 (Doug Peterson, one-upping my contribution from last year). But they were all great - Brian continues to impress as a constructor, Peter Gordon had some knotty sections that gave me more trouble (relative to the field) than anything else, BEQ always rocks, and Nothnagel's final themeless was outstanding.
I like BEQ's proposal to revisit the Guinness world record, still claimed by Stan Newman at 2:14 for a Monday NYT. I actually mentioned the idea to Brendan on Saturday, inspired by seeing Stan in competition for the first time in 20+ years. Wouldn't that be a good ACPT Saturday night activity? At least eight of us could top that record...
Sunday, 8/23/09 & Lollapuzzoola
NYT 6:00 ... LAT 6:20 ... MR 5:22 ... BG 6:04 ... ND 3:48 ... CS 1:54 ... Diagramless (p) 8:10
Yes, I won the tournament! The margin on the final puzzle was seven seconds, but I'll take it. I'm now the proud owner of an amazing crossword mosaic by Joanne Sullivan (see below), several extremely prestigious 8.5"x11" certificates of merit, and what may be the last two Sterling crossword books I didn't already own. (update: and a medal!)
Standings are up at Be More Smarter, and there may be more details on other blogs, but I'm not investigating until I've done today's puzzles. Longer writeup to come? Probably not.
(photo by G.M.)
Yes, I won the tournament! The margin on the final puzzle was seven seconds, but I'll take it. I'm now the proud owner of an amazing crossword mosaic by Joanne Sullivan (see below), several extremely prestigious 8.5"x11" certificates of merit, and what may be the last two Sterling crossword books I didn't already own. (update: and a medal!)
Standings are up at Be More Smarter, and there may be more details on other blogs, but I'm not investigating until I've done today's puzzles. Longer writeup to come? Probably not.
(photo by G.M.)
Saturday, 8/22/09
NYT (p) 7:34 ... LAT (p) 3:53 ... CS (p) 2:24 ... ND (p) 6:11
It's time for Lollapuzzoola 2: Son of Puzzoola! Hopefully I'll post a recap in the next couple days. Or not, since at least half my readership will be there, right? Friday night I had dinner with THREE crossword bloggers, and a commenter who's just as cool.
It's time for Lollapuzzoola 2: Son of Puzzoola! Hopefully I'll post a recap in the next couple days. Or not, since at least half my readership will be there, right? Friday night I had dinner with THREE crossword bloggers, and a commenter who's just as cool.
Friday, 8/21/09
NYT 4:07 ... LAT (p) 2:56 ... CS (p) 2:23 ... ND (p) 2:28 ... WSJ (p) 8:02 ... BEQ (p) 3:29 ... MGWC (p) 6:42 ... DB (p) 6:02
Saw that Patrick Berry had the NYT, and decided it couldn't wait until mid-afternoon with the rest of the puzzles...
Saw that Patrick Berry had the NYT, and decided it couldn't wait until mid-afternoon with the rest of the puzzles...
Wednesday, 8/19/09
NYT (p) ~3:00? ... LAT (p) 2:46 ... CS (p) 2:45 ... ND (p) 2:52 ... BEQ (p) 3:36
My timer failed to start on the NYT - it felt pretty average for Wednesday. Several errors/erasures in Newsday, which was odd because Piscop's puzzles are usually smooth 'n' easy even for Newsday.
My timer failed to start on the NYT - it felt pretty average for Wednesday. Several errors/erasures in Newsday, which was odd because Piscop's puzzles are usually smooth 'n' easy even for Newsday.
Tuesday, 8/18/09
NYT (p) 2:46 ... LAT (p) 2:07 ... CS (p) 2:20 ... ND (p) 1:55 ... BT (p) 3:00 ... TO (p) 3:41
Monday, 8/17/09
NYT (p) 2:23 ... LAT (p) 2:14 ... CS (p) 2:51 ... ND (p) 2:07 ... JON (p) 2:43 ... BEQ (p) 5:22
Okay, I'm back (Tuesday evening) with a working backup computer. Thanks honey!
I was going to go mostly paper this week anyway, to gear up for the tournament...
Okay, I'm back (Tuesday evening) with a working backup computer. Thanks honey!
I was going to go mostly paper this week anyway, to gear up for the tournament...
Sunday, 8/16/09
NYT 7:51 ... LAT 4:24 ... MR 5:50 ... BG tba ... ND 3:32 ... LATB 5:09 ... CS 2:56 ... Acrostic 11:10
Hey, Bursztyn's back in the LAT. And I'm heading home tonight. Less than a week until Son of Puzzoola!
Hey, Bursztyn's back in the LAT. And I'm heading home tonight. Less than a week until Son of Puzzoola!
Saturday, 8/15/09
NYT 7:15 ... LAT 3:07 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 4:26
Thought I'd use the applet since the internet is less spotty today - but when I finished, it took 10+ seconds to register. Thus my "real" time above. I'm on record calling for more themed Saturdays, but this one accomplished nothing except upping the difficulty. (Which I certainly approve of!)
Thought I'd use the applet since the internet is less spotty today - but when I finished, it took 10+ seconds to register. Thus my "real" time above. I'm on record calling for more themed Saturdays, but this one accomplished nothing except upping the difficulty. (Which I certainly approve of!)
Friday, 8/14/09
NYT 3:01 ... LAT 2:49 ... CS 1:56 ... ND 1:59 ... WSJ 5:10 ... BEQ 3:32 ... MGWC 3:00
Catching up a day at a time...
...aaaaand all caught up.
Catching up a day at a time...
...aaaaand all caught up.
Thursday, 8/13/09
NYT 2:31 ... LAT 2:17 ... CS 2:11 ... ND 1:54
Oops, not sure what happened to yesterday's (non-)post. Still haven't gotten to any crosswords, but that's mostly because the laptop's been acting up again. I guess I should repost the news from yesterday:
Good news: free whirlwind trip to Vermont! Bad news: only 24 hours to learn an hour's worth of obscure Sondheim songs.
(updated Friday afternoon. Great Naddorian grid by Patrick McIntyre in the NYT...)
Oops, not sure what happened to yesterday's (non-)post. Still haven't gotten to any crosswords, but that's mostly because the laptop's been acting up again. I guess I should repost the news from yesterday:
Good news: free whirlwind trip to Vermont! Bad news: only 24 hours to learn an hour's worth of obscure Sondheim songs.
(updated Friday afternoon. Great Naddorian grid by Patrick McIntyre in the NYT...)
Wednesday, 8/12/09
NYT 2:42 ... LAT 2:04 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 1:28 ... BEQ 2:31
(updated Thursday afternoon)
(updated Thursday afternoon)
Monday, 8/10/09
NYT 1:54 ... LAT (p) 2:02 ... CS (p) 2:58 ... ND (p) 2:08 ... JON 2:25 ... BEQ (p) 3:36
Sunday, 8/9/09
NYT (p) 6:53 ... LAT 5:02 ... MR (p) 7:25 ... BG (p) 6:47 ... ND 3:41 ... CS 2:24 ... Ringing Endorsement untimed (~15m?)
Just for fun - and to check the grid, though I wasn't questioning anything - I was able to type the NYT solution into the applet (reading Across answers from my completed printout) in 1:45. I don't get the people who don't get the speed-solvers! (Well, those who don't believe it's even possible to type that fast.) (Still haven't gauged my own WPM, btw.)
Meanwhile, Merl's puns fell pretty flat this week, except for the last one. (The penultimate one would have amused if I hadn't seen it before.) Apologies for the editing error in yesterday's post (fixed); those responsible have been sacked.
Just for fun - and to check the grid, though I wasn't questioning anything - I was able to type the NYT solution into the applet (reading Across answers from my completed printout) in 1:45. I don't get the people who don't get the speed-solvers! (Well, those who don't believe it's even possible to type that fast.) (Still haven't gauged my own WPM, btw.)
Meanwhile, Merl's puns fell pretty flat this week, except for the last one. (The penultimate one would have amused if I hadn't seen it before.) Apologies for the editing error in yesterday's post (fixed); those responsible have been sacked.
Saturday, 8/8/09
NYT 4:46 ... LAT 3:27 ... CS 1:32 ... ND 4:12
Had trouble with Gail Grabowski's LAT (first themeless?), but redeemed myself on the NYT despite making way more mistakes along the way than usual.
Hey, Barry C. Silk's got the Stumper! Nice. Awesome clue for 19-A.
Had trouble with Gail Grabowski's LAT (first themeless?), but redeemed myself on the NYT despite making way more mistakes along the way than usual.
Hey, Barry C. Silk's got the Stumper! Nice. Awesome clue for 19-A.
Friday, 8/7/09
NYT 5:30 ... LAT 2:30 ... CS 1:52 ... ND 2:19 ... CHE 3:03 ... WSJ 3:44 ... BEQ 2:37 ... MGWC 2:39
No typos or anything on the NYT - just never got into the wavelength, and spent almost exactly a minute totally forgetting about MEL'S... AYESHA was no problem, but I couldn't think of MEL'S. Joon, I hope you beat me!
morning update... OK, if I'd solved the CS before the NYT as usual, MEL'S would have been fresh in the brain! I was going to mention the WSJ last night. How is it possible for me to fly though that puzzle at Ludicrous Speed, and immediately proceed to tank the NYT? Something like a mental refractory period (sorry, Mom)?
Gonna save the BEQ so I can fully enjoy the BEQ/Gaffney Crossover Event!
No typos or anything on the NYT - just never got into the wavelength, and spent almost exactly a minute totally forgetting about MEL'S... AYESHA was no problem, but I couldn't think of MEL'S. Joon, I hope you beat me!
morning update... OK, if I'd solved the CS before the NYT as usual, MEL'S would have been fresh in the brain! I was going to mention the WSJ last night. How is it possible for me to fly though that puzzle at Ludicrous Speed, and immediately proceed to tank the NYT? Something like a mental refractory period (sorry, Mom)?
Gonna save the BEQ so I can fully enjoy the BEQ/Gaffney Crossover Event!
Thursday, 8/6/09
NYT 2:13 ... LAT 2:19 ... CS 1:52 ... ND 2:03
Hooray for Dan Naddor's NYT debut! In typical fashion, he's sporting 7 theme answers in the NYT and another 7 in the LAT.
Hooray for Dan Naddor's NYT debut! In typical fashion, he's sporting 7 theme answers in the NYT and another 7 in the LAT.
Tuesday, 8/4/09
NYT 1:56 ... LAT 1:54 ... CS 1:42 ... ND 1:28 ... BT (p) 3:35 ... TO (p) 3:37
I really should keep up the paper practicing... but I'm so lazy.
I really should keep up the paper practicing... but I'm so lazy.
Monday, 8/3/09
NYT (p) 2:12 ... LAT (p) 2:10 ... CS (p) 2:40 ... ND (p) 1:46 ... JON (p) 2:37 ... BEQ (p) 4:14
I didn't believe my stopwatch on the Newsday, but I really never stopped writing. Next Monday we'll break 1:40!
I didn't believe my stopwatch on the Newsday, but I really never stopped writing. Next Monday we'll break 1:40!
Sunday, 8/2/09
NYT (p) 9:37 ... LAT (p) 6:58 ... MR (p) 7:04 ... BG (p) 6:51 ... ND (p) 6:23 ... CS (p) 3:04 ... Acrostic 14:25
Saturday, 8/1/09
NYT (p) 5:15 ... LAT (p) 4:54 ... CS (p) 3:38 ... ND (p) 7:20
Computer problems again - but it's good to do more solving on paper. See you Sunday night!
Computer problems again - but it's good to do more solving on paper. See you Sunday night!
Friday, 7/31/09
NYT 3:45 ... LAT 3:08 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 2:32 ... WSJ 6:31 ... BEQ 3:49 ... MGWC (p) 9:40
Thursday, 7/30/09
NYT 3:13 ... LAT 2:26 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 1:43
Oops, I see this didn't post last night. I'm going out of town for a wedding this weekend, so the Sunday update will be late...
Oops, I see this didn't post last night. I'm going out of town for a wedding this weekend, so the Sunday update will be late...
Sunday, 7/26/09
NYT 7:03 ... LAT 4:22 ... MR 5:06 ... BG 4:07 ... ND 3:37 ... CS 2:46 ... P&A dnf
See Wordplay for my annoyance at the minor racial slur in the Puns & Anagrams puzzle.
See Wordplay for my annoyance at the minor racial slur in the Puns & Anagrams puzzle.
Saturday, 7/25/09
NYT 4:11 ... LAT 2:44 ... CS 2:00 ... ND 5:53
It's not often that the NYT Saturday themeless is the day's least interesting! Great to have Adam Cohen contributing to Newsday, and I wonder if it was MALTLIQUOR or DAU that disqualified Brad Wilber's awesome LAT puzzle from NYT publication... answer: neither - faulty premise.
It's not often that the NYT Saturday themeless is the day's least interesting! Great to have Adam Cohen contributing to Newsday, and I wonder if it was MALTLIQUOR or DAU that disqualified Brad Wilber's awesome LAT puzzle from NYT publication... answer: neither - faulty premise.
Friday, 7/24/09
NYT 3:35 ... LAT 2:44 ... CS 2:15 ... ND 2:33 ... BEQ 3:02 ... CHE 2:52 ... WSJ 8:04 ... MGWC (p) 6:53
Feeling sluggish with today's puzzles (as opposed to last night's). The WSJ theme is one of my least favorites in a long time - some of the long answers barely make sense, and none of them amused me. [note: I've parsed them all now, and am moderately amused.] Actually, if you don't count Patrick Berry's gorgeous NYT (and the missing CHE), it's a subpar set of Friday puzzles overall.
Feeling sluggish with today's puzzles (as opposed to last night's). The WSJ theme is one of my least favorites in a long time - some of the long answers barely make sense, and none of them amused me. [note: I've parsed them all now, and am moderately amused.] Actually, if you don't count Patrick Berry's gorgeous NYT (and the missing CHE), it's a subpar set of Friday puzzles overall.
Thursday, 7/23/09
NYT 4:01 ... LAT 2:32 ... CS 1:40 ... ND 1:46
I didn't get the theme in the NYT until afterwards, but it's one of those where I clearly could have saved some time in the long run by figuring it out during the solve. The 16-letter key fell so early that I'd mostly forgotten about it, and most of the strange clue-answer combos seemed close enough for Thursday! Very impressive theme, so much so that Shortz allowed a staggering 85 words in the grid (or 82 if you prorate to a 15x15, still almost unheard-of). No mention of the statistical anomaly yet at Wordplay (or Fiend)... And the LAT combines two of my favorite things: the "reverse-clue" theme, and Dan Naddor.
I didn't get the theme in the NYT until afterwards, but it's one of those where I clearly could have saved some time in the long run by figuring it out during the solve. The 16-letter key fell so early that I'd mostly forgotten about it, and most of the strange clue-answer combos seemed close enough for Thursday! Very impressive theme, so much so that Shortz allowed a staggering 85 words in the grid (or 82 if you prorate to a 15x15, still almost unheard-of). No mention of the statistical anomaly yet at Wordplay (or Fiend)... And the LAT combines two of my favorite things: the "reverse-clue" theme, and Dan Naddor.
Wednesday, 7/22/09
NYT 2:37 ... LAT 1:54 ... CS 1:57 ... ND (p) 2:06 ... BEQ (p) 4:31
My health is much better, but my computer's is much worse! I was hoping Vista would heal itself before I had to do anything drastic, but that doesn't seem to be panning out...
My health is much better, but my computer's is much worse! I was hoping Vista would heal itself before I had to do anything drastic, but that doesn't seem to be panning out...
Monday, 7/20/09
NYT 1:59 ... LAT 1:50 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 1:24 ... JON 4:07 ... BEQ 2:54
I've discovered the secret to encouraging blog conversation - go away for a few days and your readers will have to talk to each other! I had a great weekend in Vermont, and didn't look at a single crossword, except for a cryptic Sunday morning in bed with my honey.
I'm a little under the weather today, but I'll try to get caught up on the weekend puzzles - backdated posts will be below this one. Hey, I can solve backwards (Monday-Sunday-Saturday) and get the perfect steepening of difficulty!
I've discovered the secret to encouraging blog conversation - go away for a few days and your readers will have to talk to each other! I had a great weekend in Vermont, and didn't look at a single crossword, except for a cryptic Sunday morning in bed with my honey.
I'm a little under the weather today, but I'll try to get caught up on the weekend puzzles - backdated posts will be below this one. Hey, I can solve backwards (Monday-Sunday-Saturday) and get the perfect steepening of difficulty!
Sunday, 7/19/09
NYT 8:00 ... LAT 4:58 ... ND 4:45 ... BG 4:44 ... MR 5:59 ... CS 2:14 ... Acrostic 6:20
Fast Acrostic, slow NYT puzzle.
Fast Acrostic, slow NYT puzzle.
Saturday, 7/18/09
NYT 3:38 ... LAT 3:02 ... CS 2:21 ... ND 5:25
Happy birthday to me! Sweet bunch of puzzles today, even if I'm enjoying them three days late. Two themelesses, Doug? You shouldn't have! Plus a typically terrific (and atypically fast) CS by Bob Klahn, and one of Joe Krozel's most impressive NYT grids to date. A 58-worder with no horrible entries?!? I was lucky to get footholds relatively quickly in each quadrant, making for a smooth solve.
Happy birthday to me! Sweet bunch of puzzles today, even if I'm enjoying them three days late. Two themelesses, Doug? You shouldn't have! Plus a typically terrific (and atypically fast) CS by Bob Klahn, and one of Joe Krozel's most impressive NYT grids to date. A 58-worder with no horrible entries?!? I was lucky to get footholds relatively quickly in each quadrant, making for a smooth solve.
Friday, 7/17/09
NYT 4:43 ... LAT 2:19 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 1:48 ... WSJ 5:16 ... BEQ 3:45 ... MGWC 5:10
Going away for the weekend - it's my birthday tomorrow! - and likely won't be posting Sat/Sun/Mon times before Monday. I don't even think I'm bringing my laptop.
Meanwhile, I finally joined the NPL, where my cutesy nickname shall be "Delayer". It's a shorter version of the incredibly apt anagram discovered by my friend Pete: Fine Delayer.
Going away for the weekend - it's my birthday tomorrow! - and likely won't be posting Sat/Sun/Mon times before Monday. I don't even think I'm bringing my laptop.
Meanwhile, I finally joined the NPL, where my cutesy nickname shall be "Delayer". It's a shorter version of the incredibly apt anagram discovered by my friend Pete: Fine Delayer.
Wednesday, 7/15/09
NYT 2:31 ... LAT 1:54 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 1:44 ... BEQ 2:48
Another winner, Joon! I could definitely have been faster because there was so much stuff in my wheelhouse, but I got a little finger-tied (like tongue-tied, but with typing).
Another winner, Joon! I could definitely have been faster because there was so much stuff in my wheelhouse, but I got a little finger-tied (like tongue-tied, but with typing).
Tuesday, 7/14/09
NYT 1:51 ... LAT 1:43 ... CS 1:45 ... ND 1:41 ... BT 4:03 ... TO 3:04
Now that's a reason to go to a supersized grid! Happy Bastille Day!
Sorry, I haven't gotten to any typing tests, too busy almost finishing my first (old) Atlantic Puzzler, and a couple of Kegler's bar cryptics...
Now that's a reason to go to a supersized grid! Happy Bastille Day!
Sorry, I haven't gotten to any typing tests, too busy almost finishing my first (old) Atlantic Puzzler, and a couple of Kegler's bar cryptics...
Sunday, 7/12/09
NYT 4:55* ... LAT 5:30 ... MR 4:51 ... BG 6:03 ... ND 3:24 ... CS 3:04 ... Diagramless 9:40
I'm posting this almost 30 hours after solving... how's that for quality blogging? Returned home tonight and had no energy to finish Sunday's or Monday's puzzles. I'll report back on my WPM tomorrow!
I hit the applet Saturday night at exactly 6pm because I had to get to dinner afterwards -- apparently I clicked in a bit too soon, because the puzzle wasn't coming up, and I had to back up and click in again to get the grid. So I'm claiming back the 20 or so seconds that were on the clock when I started solving.
update: Newsday once again provides my personal-best 21x21...
I'm posting this almost 30 hours after solving... how's that for quality blogging? Returned home tonight and had no energy to finish Sunday's or Monday's puzzles. I'll report back on my WPM tomorrow!
I hit the applet Saturday night at exactly 6pm because I had to get to dinner afterwards -- apparently I clicked in a bit too soon, because the puzzle wasn't coming up, and I had to back up and click in again to get the grid. So I'm claiming back the 20 or so seconds that were on the clock when I started solving.
update: Newsday once again provides my personal-best 21x21...
Saturday, 7/11/09
NYT 4:04 ... LAT 2:35 ... CS 1:49 ... ND 4:55
What a great week of NYT puzzles - it could have been legendarily so if Paula Gamache's Monday from last week were swapped with this Monday... I was just wondering when we'd get another Saturday from Karen Tracey, and here she is tonight with one of my favorite actors smack in the middle!
Coming to you tonight from a bench in the backyard, with the stars and the fireflies keeping me company. I can't see the letters on the keyboard, but as you might guess, I'm an excellent touch typist. Thanks Mom for giving me that old typewriter and typing excercise book when I was what, 8 or 9? Wonder how my WPM compares to other speed-solvers - there could be a small but measurable advantage there... :) Back to New York on Sunday night!
What a great week of NYT puzzles - it could have been legendarily so if Paula Gamache's Monday from last week were swapped with this Monday... I was just wondering when we'd get another Saturday from Karen Tracey, and here she is tonight with one of my favorite actors smack in the middle!
Coming to you tonight from a bench in the backyard, with the stars and the fireflies keeping me company. I can't see the letters on the keyboard, but as you might guess, I'm an excellent touch typist. Thanks Mom for giving me that old typewriter and typing excercise book when I was what, 8 or 9? Wonder how my WPM compares to other speed-solvers - there could be a small but measurable advantage there... :) Back to New York on Sunday night!
Friday, 7/10/09
NYT 4:19 ... LAT 2:25 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 2:11 ... CHE 2:07 ... WSJ 6:06 ... BEQ 4:39 ... MGWC 2:45
Thursday, 7/9/09
NYT 2:43 ... LAT 2:31 ... CS 2:05 ... ND 2:01 ... AB 2:51
We got DRJEKYLL in the CS, and MRHYDE in the Newsday...
Been on a bit of a cryptic binge lately, because one of the only books I brought to NH with me was 101 Cryptic Crosswords, which I've nearly finished. These easy New Yorker puzzles now take me about 5 minutes, and I timed one at 2:52. Clearly it's time to move up the difficulty ladder.
Any recommendations for the next step up? I'm going to try the online offerings of Ron Sweet, Trip Payne, Atlantic Monthly, and the old NYT Cru, as well as the NYT Second Sundays. Am I missing anything?
We got DRJEKYLL in the CS, and MRHYDE in the Newsday...
Been on a bit of a cryptic binge lately, because one of the only books I brought to NH with me was 101 Cryptic Crosswords, which I've nearly finished. These easy New Yorker puzzles now take me about 5 minutes, and I timed one at 2:52. Clearly it's time to move up the difficulty ladder.
Any recommendations for the next step up? I'm going to try the online offerings of Ron Sweet, Trip Payne, Atlantic Monthly, and the old NYT Cru, as well as the NYT Second Sundays. Am I missing anything?
Wednesday, 7/8/09
NYT 2:36 ... LAT 2:04 ... CS 2:03 ... ND 1:33 ... BEQ 2:21 ... jp 3:36
Slowed down a bit in the NYT applet because I was marveling at the gimmick. Very cool!
Slowed down a bit in the NYT applet because I was marveling at the gimmick. Very cool!
Tuesday, 7/7/09
NYT 2:19 ... LAT 1:45 ... CS 2:03 ... ND 1:40 ... BT 4:00 ... TO 2:36
Nice to see Tyler in the applet, reminding me who's the five-time champ! Opening night of my show tonight, then I'm back to my normal work schedule - three hours a day.
update: Unusual for an Onion puzzle by Byron to be so much easier than the InkWell...
Nice to see Tyler in the applet, reminding me who's the five-time champ! Opening night of my show tonight, then I'm back to my normal work schedule - three hours a day.
update: Unusual for an Onion puzzle by Byron to be so much easier than the InkWell...
Sunday, 7/5/09
NYT 4:47 ... LAT 4:54 ... ND 4:02 ... MR 4:06 ... BG 4:11 ... CS 2:32 ... Acrostic 12:15
Hooray for Amy "Orange" Reynaldo's NYT debut!
Hooray for Amy "Orange" Reynaldo's NYT debut!
Saturday, 7/4/09
NYT 4:15 ... LAT 3:08 ... CS 2:02 ... ND 6:27 ... TPP 3:08
Dan Naddor and the LAT win today's holiday-themed-themeless showdown in a unanimous decision over the NYT! (Unanimous in my house, I predict bloggers will agree.) Mr. Naddor, please make more "themeless" puzzles! Spent at least 30 seconds finding my NYT error, which was SICKRACE/IRIS... if the god wasn't going to be ARES, surely it would be something else recognizable like ERIS or IRIS, right? Finally looked at the down clue and submitted... ARIS? Okay.
Loved Trip's trivia puzzle - I knew all the honorees without using crossings, except for the Emmy winner.
Dan Naddor and the LAT win today's holiday-themed-themeless showdown in a unanimous decision over the NYT! (Unanimous in my house, I predict bloggers will agree.) Mr. Naddor, please make more "themeless" puzzles! Spent at least 30 seconds finding my NYT error, which was SICKRACE/IRIS... if the god wasn't going to be ARES, surely it would be something else recognizable like ERIS or IRIS, right? Finally looked at the down clue and submitted... ARIS? Okay.
Loved Trip's trivia puzzle - I knew all the honorees without using crossings, except for the Emmy winner.
Friday, 7/3/09
NYT 4:46 ... LAT 2:09 ... CS 1:53 ... ND 1:53 ... WSJ 5:24 ... BEQ 2:39 ... MGWC 2:35
Sweet NYT themeless by Kevin Der. The stack of SWAZILAND/TAXEVADER/EXTREMITY is one of my favorites recently. (But will Stan's ever be topped?) Ran into a brick wall for a while in the SE corner with nothing but BLOC and OBTUSE. But I don't blame myself for the erroneous KMART, which slowed me down at the beginning. I conducted IVES's "The Unanswered Question" in college, but at the concert, the ringer violinist (from the real university orchestra, not the JV squad I was conducting) entered at the wrong time, taking the whole section with him. Fortunately, being modern music, it didn't sound that bad even though the first violins were one bar off for the entire piece.
Sweet NYT themeless by Kevin Der. The stack of SWAZILAND/TAXEVADER/EXTREMITY is one of my favorites recently. (But will Stan's ever be topped?) Ran into a brick wall for a while in the SE corner with nothing but BLOC and OBTUSE. But I don't blame myself for the erroneous KMART, which slowed me down at the beginning. I conducted IVES's "The Unanswered Question" in college, but at the concert, the ringer violinist (from the real university orchestra, not the JV squad I was conducting) entered at the wrong time, taking the whole section with him. Fortunately, being modern music, it didn't sound that bad even though the first violins were one bar off for the entire piece.
Wednesday, 7/1/09
NYT 2:38 ... LAT 1:54 ... CS 1:56 ... ND 1:38 ... BEQ 3:28
That's one hell of a fast turnaround for the NYT tribute...
That's one hell of a fast turnaround for the NYT tribute...
Tuesday, 6/30/09
NYT 1:38 ... LAT 2:11 ... CS 1:49 ... ND 1:32 ... BT 3:21 ... TO 2:43
Well, I spoke too soon about having an internet connection... The wireless signal at home is probably coming from a ways away, so it goes in and out. Better than nothing!
Well, I spoke too soon about having an internet connection... The wireless signal at home is probably coming from a ways away, so it goes in and out. Better than nothing!
Monday, 6/29/09
NYT 1:45 ... LAT 1:58 ... CS 2:02 ... ND 1:35 ... BEQ 3:08
OK, solving on the bus wasn't too bad. Sometimes I think Paula G. gets special treatment because she works for Mr. Shortz, but today's is an amazing (and Oryx-worthy)Monday puzzle.
update: Hey, good news everyone! My host (or her neighbor) has wifi, so I may be keeping up with the puzzles/blogs after all. I was expecting only to have internet at work, where I don't get much laptop time.
Sweet proper names in PB2's CS offering - KIEV, PEABO, WALSTON, WENDT - and of course SWEET CHARITY (starring Christina Applegate). Kinda disliked the LAT puzzle, despite PIANISTS and MOLTEN LAVA... lots of awkward fill everywhere and a marquee themer I've never heard of. Norris went super-sized (again!) for that?
I also have to mention the Sunday Newsday puzzle... The title "Back and Forth: some alternate spellings" didn't exactly spell out the theme, which I finally realized was simply phrases with alternating vowels and consonants. I liked it fine, because Fred Piscop always brings smooth 'n' lively fill, but I would have liked a little more spoon-feeding from my Newsday puzzle. I wonder if I was just being dumb, or if there were thousands of confused solvers around the country yesterday wondering what they were missing.
OK, solving on the bus wasn't too bad. Sometimes I think Paula G. gets special treatment because she works for Mr. Shortz, but today's is an amazing (and Oryx-worthy)Monday puzzle.
update: Hey, good news everyone! My host (or her neighbor) has wifi, so I may be keeping up with the puzzles/blogs after all. I was expecting only to have internet at work, where I don't get much laptop time.
Sweet proper names in PB2's CS offering - KIEV, PEABO, WALSTON, WENDT - and of course SWEET CHARITY (starring Christina Applegate). Kinda disliked the LAT puzzle, despite PIANISTS and MOLTEN LAVA... lots of awkward fill everywhere and a marquee themer I've never heard of. Norris went super-sized (again!) for that?
I also have to mention the Sunday Newsday puzzle... The title "Back and Forth: some alternate spellings" didn't exactly spell out the theme, which I finally realized was simply phrases with alternating vowels and consonants. I liked it fine, because Fred Piscop always brings smooth 'n' lively fill, but I would have liked a little more spoon-feeding from my Newsday puzzle. I wonder if I was just being dumb, or if there were thousands of confused solvers around the country yesterday wondering what they were missing.
Sunday, 6/28/09
NYT 5:38 ... LAT 4:07 ... MR 4:58 ... BG 5:41 ... ND 3:52 ... CS 2:01 ... Spiral (p) 6:40
I'm blogging on a bus! Greyhound screwed us over ("us" being the lucky artists taking an eight-hour bus ride to New Hampshire), so the eight-hour trip is turning into eleven, but we're on a swank, wifi-enabled C&J bus for awhile. Anyone ever make the NYT applet top ten while riding on a bus? I'm about to try.
I'm blogging on a bus! Greyhound screwed us over ("us" being the lucky artists taking an eight-hour bus ride to New Hampshire), so the eight-hour trip is turning into eleven, but we're on a swank, wifi-enabled C&J bus for awhile. Anyone ever make the NYT applet top ten while riding on a bus? I'm about to try.
Saturday, 6/27/09
NYT 4:03 ... LAT 2:51 ... CS 2:00 ... ND 4:20
Funny coincidence - the friend whose wedding I'm going to tonight was in the same college class as Stella Daily, who cowrote the wedding-themed CrosSynergy puzzle. (...And is also getting married today!)
I'd hoped to write a little more this week, about Dean Olsher, vowelless crosswords, and such, but time ran out on me. Haven't had any time to work on my puzzle idea either, so that'll have to wait a couple weeks. See you on the other side...
Funny coincidence - the friend whose wedding I'm going to tonight was in the same college class as Stella Daily, who cowrote the wedding-themed CrosSynergy puzzle. (...And is also getting married today!)
I'd hoped to write a little more this week, about Dean Olsher, vowelless crosswords, and such, but time ran out on me. Haven't had any time to work on my puzzle idea either, so that'll have to wait a couple weeks. See you on the other side...
Friday, 6/26/09
NYT 4:08 ... LAT 2:41 ... CS 1:42 ... ND 2:21 ... CHE 3:02 ... WSJ 4:25 ... BEQ 5:08 ... MGWC n/a
Thursday, 6/25/09
NYT 2:34 ... LAT 2:37 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 1:51
Great theme in the NYT (though I feel like it's been done better before?). Shoulda been at least 15 seconds faster, because I abandoned the SW corner with two empty squares, and it took me too long when I came back over there to finish. 50-Down was the problem, crosswordese with an odd enough clue to throw me.
Apparently this is post #200. How many with actual content, Blogger?
Great theme in the NYT (though I feel like it's been done better before?). Shoulda been at least 15 seconds faster, because I abandoned the SW corner with two empty squares, and it took me too long when I came back over there to finish. 50-Down was the problem, crosswordese with an odd enough clue to throw me.
Apparently this is post #200. How many with actual content, Blogger?
Tuesday, 6/23/09
NYT 2:01 ... LAT 2:01 ... CS 1:49 ... ND 1:42 ... BT 3:04 ... TO 3:37
This Sunday I'll be leaving town for two weeks to do a show in New Hampshire. Actual blogging will be sparse(r than usual), but I should be able to solve the puzzles and post times.
Tuesday update: I don't understand the Newsday theme. And to finish Matt Jones's excellent Onion puzzle, I had to play guess-the-[[spoiler]] in box 43.
This Sunday I'll be leaving town for two weeks to do a show in New Hampshire. Actual blogging will be sparse(r than usual), but I should be able to solve the puzzles and post times.
Tuesday update: I don't understand the Newsday theme. And to finish Matt Jones's excellent Onion puzzle, I had to play guess-the-[[spoiler]] in box 43.
Monday, 6/22/09
NYT 1:38 ... LAT 1:42 ... CS 1:56 ... ND 1:27 ... JON 2:17 ... BEQ 2:34
The NYT applet froze up five seconds into the solve, so I started over in Across Lite. (My computer's fault, not the applet's.) So my "real" time would be 5-10 seconds slower.
The NYT applet froze up five seconds into the solve, so I started over in Across Lite. (My computer's fault, not the applet's.) So my "real" time would be 5-10 seconds slower.
Sunday, 6/21/09
NYT 8:05 ... LAT 4:21 ... MR 4:49 ... BG 6:07 ... ND 3:51 ... CS 3:49 ... Acrostic ~7:00
Gotta admit, I was disappointed that the Ginsberg/Muller NYT theme wasn't gimmicky, but I liked it. Lost a minute finding my error (ALES for ADES). The NYT Acrostic seemed unusually easy, and Hex's BG puzzle was unusually hard, not just because of all the cross-referenced theme clues.
Gotta admit, I was disappointed that the Ginsberg/Muller NYT theme wasn't gimmicky, but I liked it. Lost a minute finding my error (ALES for ADES). The NYT Acrostic seemed unusually easy, and Hex's BG puzzle was unusually hard, not just because of all the cross-referenced theme clues.
Saturday, 6/20/09
NYT 6:43 ... LAT 2:18 ... CS 1:55 ... ND 5:24 ... TM 3:20
Thanks Todd McClary for another fun bonus puzzle... and for the music/theater bent to the clues! Huge problems with the NW of Brad Wilber's NYT, not knowing LEMAT (seen it before) or TENIERS (???), and with such hard clues for the stacked Acrosses. Love ya Brad, but "Was I snoring?" is not a cross-worthy phrase - I spent minutes trying to think of an actual phrase ending in SNORING.
Thanks Todd McClary for another fun bonus puzzle... and for the music/theater bent to the clues! Huge problems with the NW of Brad Wilber's NYT, not knowing LEMAT (seen it before) or TENIERS (???), and with such hard clues for the stacked Acrosses. Love ya Brad, but "Was I snoring?" is not a cross-worthy phrase - I spent minutes trying to think of an actual phrase ending in SNORING.
Friday, 6/19/09
NYT 4:35 ... LAT 1:50 ... CS 1:35 ... ND 2:02 ... WSJ 5:03 ... BEQ 2:40 ... MGWC 3:55
Got home Thursday afternoon, exhausted from a fun couple of days away (and a not-so-fun drive back in lousy weather), and with no energy to start catching up on crosswords. The only puzzles I did on the trip were a vowelless Tuesday before bed, and the Boston Globe's on Wednesday morning. The Globe's was by Carl Cranby, with no editor listed. So I hoped it might be at least the Newsday puzzle as I set in to solve it -- no such luck, as some terrible/bizarre clues betrayed the hand of Timothy Parker. How unfortunate that such a major newspaper, which even runs its own Sunday puzzle, uses one of the crap syndicated puzzles every day! Maybe there's another one in another section, I didn't look too hard...
update: Lots of long gimmes in today's themelesses by BEQ and DLW. Also set a LAT Friday record, and on a Daily/Venzke offering, which usually isn't on my wavelength. It helped that I had just done all the Wed. and Thu. puzzles, so the brain was all warmed up...
Got home Thursday afternoon, exhausted from a fun couple of days away (and a not-so-fun drive back in lousy weather), and with no energy to start catching up on crosswords. The only puzzles I did on the trip were a vowelless Tuesday before bed, and the Boston Globe's on Wednesday morning. The Globe's was by Carl Cranby, with no editor listed. So I hoped it might be at least the Newsday puzzle as I set in to solve it -- no such luck, as some terrible/bizarre clues betrayed the hand of Timothy Parker. How unfortunate that such a major newspaper, which even runs its own Sunday puzzle, uses one of the crap syndicated puzzles every day! Maybe there's another one in another section, I didn't look too hard...
update: Lots of long gimmes in today's themelesses by BEQ and DLW. Also set a LAT Friday record, and on a Daily/Venzke offering, which usually isn't on my wavelength. It helped that I had just done all the Wed. and Thu. puzzles, so the brain was all warmed up...
Tuesday, 6/16/09
NYT 2:06 ... LAT 1:29 ... CS 1:53 ... ND 1:37 ... BT 4:46 ... TO 2:34
Second day in a row I got a bit bollixed up on the NYT applet, but whatever, I'm going on a road trip! Heading to Maine ("Land of Cimmets") tomorrow to see a couple friends co-star in one of the best musicals of the last 25 years. Hey, I'm not working, why not take a road trip! Next update will be on Thursday... maybe Friday. (This is why I don't seek a readership here!)
Meanwhile, I did get the Vowelless book, have solved about 2.5 puzzles so far and will report back anon. I also spent an hour-plus with Puzzle Masterpieces today, which I hadn't touched for a couple months. They're just too good. I'm going to take two years to finish that thing, not just one. And speaking of Sterling Publishing and their penchant for awesome, PB2 tipped me off to some of their exciting (to me) upcoming projects... And I'll pass that info along just as soon as I see if it's OK to share it! (It's a sequel and a reprint series that I'm excited about, so nothing groundbreaking. I also heard about various sudoku hybrids...)
I've also spent the last week working on the puzzle idea that's going to get me published in the NYT. The key theme entry is an old idea that I wanted to build around, but never came up with anything clever enough, until a different, gimmickier way of approaching it occurred to me. Aha! It's that feeling Doug Peterson gets twice a day! Anyway, I'll be in touch with you all sooner or later for advice... :)
Second day in a row I got a bit bollixed up on the NYT applet, but whatever, I'm going on a road trip! Heading to Maine ("Land of Cimmets") tomorrow to see a couple friends co-star in one of the best musicals of the last 25 years. Hey, I'm not working, why not take a road trip! Next update will be on Thursday... maybe Friday. (This is why I don't seek a readership here!)
Meanwhile, I did get the Vowelless book, have solved about 2.5 puzzles so far and will report back anon. I also spent an hour-plus with Puzzle Masterpieces today, which I hadn't touched for a couple months. They're just too good. I'm going to take two years to finish that thing, not just one. And speaking of Sterling Publishing and their penchant for awesome, PB2 tipped me off to some of their exciting (to me) upcoming projects... And I'll pass that info along just as soon as I see if it's OK to share it! (It's a sequel and a reprint series that I'm excited about, so nothing groundbreaking. I also heard about various sudoku hybrids...)
I've also spent the last week working on the puzzle idea that's going to get me published in the NYT. The key theme entry is an old idea that I wanted to build around, but never came up with anything clever enough, until a different, gimmickier way of approaching it occurred to me. Aha! It's that feeling Doug Peterson gets twice a day! Anyway, I'll be in touch with you all sooner or later for advice... :)
Monday, 6/15/09
NYT 2:07 ... LAT 1:40 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 1:37 ... JON 2:22 ... BEQ 3:12
Today (Sunday), I did some Downs-only solving, first a few CS puzzles and then a couple old LAT Saturdays. Good times! And today (Monday), I'll finally get my hands on Vowelless Crosswords.
Today (Sunday), I did some Downs-only solving, first a few CS puzzles and then a couple old LAT Saturdays. Good times! And today (Monday), I'll finally get my hands on Vowelless Crosswords.
Sunday, 6/14/09
NYT (p) 8:11 ... LAT 5:07 ... ND 3:56 ... MR (p) 8:13 ... MR 6/7* 5:37 ... MR 6/14* 5:26 ... BG (p) 8:42 ... CS 2:34 ... Cryptic (p) 14:35
I did a bunch of puzzles on paper today for the first time in months. Good for the soul! Also solved, without too much difficulty, a few variety cryptics from a variety of crossword books. Definitely getting the hang of the cryptics, but not yet fully addicted.
update: Haven't the vaguest idea which of Merl's puzzles are appearing where, so I did (what seem to be) the syndicated puzzles at Merl's site on the good old CC applet.
I did a bunch of puzzles on paper today for the first time in months. Good for the soul! Also solved, without too much difficulty, a few variety cryptics from a variety of crossword books. Definitely getting the hang of the cryptics, but not yet fully addicted.
update: Haven't the vaguest idea which of Merl's puzzles are appearing where, so I did (what seem to be) the syndicated puzzles at Merl's site on the good old CC applet.
Friday, 6/12/09
NYT 3:05 ... LAT 2:14 ... CS 1:59 ... ND 2:21 ... CHE 2:15 ... WSJ 5:32 ... BEQ 3:14 ... MGWC 2:28
Thursday, 6/11/09
NYT 2:58 ... LAT 2:50 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 1:42
Cool non-traditional grid by Alex Boisvert in the NYT! I saw that Orange had posted a warning about the applet, so I used Across Lite, and checked out the grid for a few seconds before starting the clock. I remember reading a discussion about this idea on thecruciverb Crossword Fiend forum... how fun to see it in final form.
Cool non-traditional grid by Alex Boisvert in the NYT! I saw that Orange had posted a warning about the applet, so I used Across Lite, and checked out the grid for a few seconds before starting the clock. I remember reading a discussion about this idea on the
Wednesday, 6/10/09
NYT 2:46 ... LAT 2:20 ... CS 2:16 ... ND 1:27 ... BEQ 3:19
If I had thought about what number Hank Aaron wore, I might have seen the central entry sooner, and not tried FIFTY-FOUR elsewhere. Obama, again, Mr. Shortz? This couldn't have waited until the Super Bowl??
If I had thought about what number Hank Aaron wore, I might have seen the central entry sooner, and not tried FIFTY-FOUR elsewhere. Obama, again, Mr. Shortz? This couldn't have waited until the Super Bowl??
Tuesday, 6/9/09
NYT 1:48 ... LAT 1:43 ... CS 2:33 ... ND 1:37 ... BT 3:37 ... TO 4:24
Check out Todd McClary's Tony Awards-inspired crossword, posted yesterday morning!
Check out Todd McClary's Tony Awards-inspired crossword, posted yesterday morning!
Monday, 6/8/09
NYT 2:04 ... LAT 1:49 ... CS 1:56 ... ND 1:37 ... JON 3:04 ... BEQ 3:21
Oops, I forgot to post after solving the NYT last night. Tony Awards excitement, dontcha know! Lost about 10 seconds for a typo, and had two clues that I don't know at all (for NAS and YOST) - rare on a Monday.
Oops, I forgot to post after solving the NYT last night. Tony Awards excitement, dontcha know! Lost about 10 seconds for a typo, and had two clues that I don't know at all (for NAS and YOST) - rare on a Monday.
Sunday, 6/7/09
NYT 8:52 ... LAT 4:30 ... MR 5:54 ... BG 4:16 ... ND 3:44 ... CS 2:43 ... Acrostic 9:05
Allllmost finished the NYT in about 7 minutes, but the central rebus circle eluded me until I realized why the circles were placed in that pattern -- and what belongs in the middle. To that point I wasn't on to the "shifty business", just coming up with the ordinal numbers where they fit... I think I had a "B" for "back" where "R" belongs, until I finished the rest of the grid and concentrated on what I was missing with the rebus. Hey, I don't drive stick.
Glad to hear via cruciverb-l that Sylvia Burzstyn is on a hiatus, and we'll be getting her Sunday LAT puzzle back soon...
Allllmost finished the NYT in about 7 minutes, but the central rebus circle eluded me until I realized why the circles were placed in that pattern -- and what belongs in the middle. To that point I wasn't on to the "shifty business", just coming up with the ordinal numbers where they fit... I think I had a "B" for "back" where "R" belongs, until I finished the rest of the grid and concentrated on what I was missing with the rebus. Hey, I don't drive stick.
Glad to hear via cruciverb-l that Sylvia Burzstyn is on a hiatus, and we'll be getting her Sunday LAT puzzle back soon...
Saturday, 6/6/09
NYT 2:48 ... LAT 2:58 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 9:10
Congrats Doug for having the NYT and LAT on the same day! Is that the first time you've turned that particular double play? Guess I was a little more on the NYT wavelength, that's my best Saturday time in the applet. I usually solve Newsday before the other two themelesses, but I took one look at the "S.N." puzzle and saved it for last so I wouldn't be too frustrated. Not nearly as cool as his last grid, and less fair clues as well.
Congrats Doug for having the NYT and LAT on the same day! Is that the first time you've turned that particular double play? Guess I was a little more on the NYT wavelength, that's my best Saturday time in the applet. I usually solve Newsday before the other two themelesses, but I took one look at the "S.N." puzzle and saved it for last so I wouldn't be too frustrated. Not nearly as cool as his last grid, and less fair clues as well.
Friday, 6/5/09
NYT 4:22 ... LAT 2:40 ... CS 1:53 ... ND 2:04 ... WSJ 5:38 ... BEQ 9:28 ... MGWC ~3:00
Cool design by Martin Ashwood-Smith in the NYT. His 10-Minute Crosswords book has the most aesthetically pleasing empty puzzles of any in my library. Flip through it at Barnes & Noble - gorgeous grids. Today's had some great clues too, which I don't usually notice speed-solving.
Nice Newsday by Sandy Fein - a Klahnian grid, in that the theme is simple and minimal, but the fill is wide-open and interesting. I LOLed at seeing the "first Ghanaian president" clue... his last name is in BEQ's Diagramless Crosswords, and I found it the most obscure/random entry in the whole book. Thanks BEQ, because I knew his first name today.
Also thanks BEQ for publishing a Trippy "Something Different" today!
Cool design by Martin Ashwood-Smith in the NYT. His 10-Minute Crosswords book has the most aesthetically pleasing empty puzzles of any in my library. Flip through it at Barnes & Noble - gorgeous grids. Today's had some great clues too, which I don't usually notice speed-solving.
Nice Newsday by Sandy Fein - a Klahnian grid, in that the theme is simple and minimal, but the fill is wide-open and interesting. I LOLed at seeing the "first Ghanaian president" clue... his last name is in BEQ's Diagramless Crosswords, and I found it the most obscure/random entry in the whole book. Thanks BEQ, because I knew his first name today.
Also thanks BEQ for publishing a Trippy "Something Different" today!
Thursday, 6/4/09
NYT 2:34 ... LAT 2:22 ... CS 1:53 ... ND 1:47
Of all the days for me not to do the puzzles in a timely fashion! Doug and PB2 bring me easy puzzles, Dan Naddor has his weekly wide-open (yet theme-crammed) LAT, and Krozel/Collins have a baseball-related gimmick in the NYT. Geniuses all.
Of all the days for me not to do the puzzles in a timely fashion! Doug and PB2 bring me easy puzzles, Dan Naddor has his weekly wide-open (yet theme-crammed) LAT, and Krozel/Collins have a baseball-related gimmick in the NYT. Geniuses all.
Wednesday, 6/3/09
NYT 2:10 ... LAT 1:58 ... CS 1:48 ... ND 1:43 ... BEQ 2:47
Finally caught up with the weekend puzzles. Meanwhile my computer is behaving again, but I still need to figure out what's wrong with it.
Finally caught up with the weekend puzzles. Meanwhile my computer is behaving again, but I still need to figure out what's wrong with it.
Tuesday, 6/2/09
NYT 2:35 ... LAT 1:46 ... CS 1:34 ... ND 1:47 ... BT 2:43 ... TO 2:50
"Finishing" time on the NYT was 1:55ish, but it was a mistake, and not a typo. ONKEY for INKEY - I did see the crossing clue but didn't think about it, obviously.
My crazy month is almost over... brother graduates from college today, I've moved into the new apartment, and my computer has decided to celebrate by acting up again.
"Finishing" time on the NYT was 1:55ish, but it was a mistake, and not a typo. ONKEY for INKEY - I did see the crossing clue but didn't think about it, obviously.
My crazy month is almost over... brother graduates from college today, I've moved into the new apartment, and my computer has decided to celebrate by acting up again.
Monday, 6/1/09
NYT 1:50 ... LAT 1:37 ... CS 1:42 ... ND 1:16 ... JON 2:31 ... BEQ 3:46
Love Conan O'Brien, love John Farmer, loved the Monday NYT.
Love Conan O'Brien, love John Farmer, loved the Monday NYT.
Sunday, 5/31/09
NYT 6:30* ... LAT 5:23 ... MR 5:26 ... BG 4:43 ... ND 3:38 ... CS 2:22 ... Diagramless ~10:00
I got kicked offline by the hotel internet, but was done with the applet around 6:30.
I got kicked offline by the hotel internet, but was done with the applet around 6:30.
Friday, 5/29/09
NYT 3:46 ... LAT 2:20 ... CS 2:45 ... ND 2:33 ... CHE 3:00 ... WSJ 6:33 ... BEQ 4:55 ... MGWC 15+ (fail)
Thursday, 5/28/09
NYT 3:03 ... LAT 2:08 ... CS 1:39 ... ND 1:56
This will be my last update until... Monday? Tuesday? No later than Wednesday. I'll probably hit the NYT applet, but won't be on my own computer, so don't expect blazing times.
(update: my computer snafu worked itself out, so I'm free to blaze.)
This will be my last update until... Monday? Tuesday? No later than Wednesday. I'll probably hit the NYT applet, but won't be on my own computer, so don't expect blazing times.
(update: my computer snafu worked itself out, so I'm free to blaze.)
Tuesday, 5/26/09
NYT 2:01 ... LAT 1:42 ... CS 1:47 ... ND 1:28 ... BT 2:59 ... TO 3:13
Special kudos to Fred Jackson III for the musical theater theme!
Special kudos to Fred Jackson III for the musical theater theme!
Monday, 5/25/09
NYT 1:35 ... LAT 1:48 ... CS 2:07 ... ND 1:37 ... JON 3:02 ... BEQ 3:00
I'm too wiped out after a two-day bachelor party to even think about hitting the Saturday puzzles. But I can handle Monday's, and maybe some of Sunday's that I missed. update: darnit, didn't notice the NYT was irregularly sized... stay tuned for the next installment of "Square or Rectangle?"
One fellow I met over the weekend works for a company called ZAAZ... how great a crossword entry is that? I encouraged him to grow the company, and quickly. Saw an eatery with the amazing name Lettuce B. Frank. And a crossword I constructed (for the wedding later this summer) was a hit with the group... it took four Princeton graduates, working together on a long car ride, about an hour to finish, which is just the level I'd intended.
I'm too wiped out after a two-day bachelor party to even think about hitting the Saturday puzzles. But I can handle Monday's, and maybe some of Sunday's that I missed. update: darnit, didn't notice the NYT was irregularly sized... stay tuned for the next installment of "Square or Rectangle?"
One fellow I met over the weekend works for a company called ZAAZ... how great a crossword entry is that? I encouraged him to grow the company, and quickly. Saw an eatery with the amazing name Lettuce B. Frank. And a crossword I constructed (for the wedding later this summer) was a hit with the group... it took four Princeton graduates, working together on a long car ride, about an hour to finish, which is just the level I'd intended.
Sunday, 5/24/09
NYT 4:49 ... LAT 4:10 ... MR 4:07 ... BG 4:47 ... ND 3:58 ... CS 2:27 ... Acrostic 8:45
Had some down time before going out to dinner Saturday night, so I solved the NYT online to impress my friends. Not a bad showing considering I was at least slightly intoxicated for most of the weekend (and didn't look at the Notepad).
Had some down time before going out to dinner Saturday night, so I solved the NYT online to impress my friends. Not a bad showing considering I was at least slightly intoxicated for most of the weekend (and didn't look at the Notepad).
Saturday, 5/23/09
NYT 6:11 ... LAT 2:25 ... CS 2:07 ... ND 5:09
Heh! Tied with Amy on the NYT, but three days late.
Heh! Tied with Amy on the NYT, but three days late.
Friday, 5/22/09
NYT 5:49 ... LAT 2:23 ... CS 1:51 ... ND 2:12 ... CHE 2:51 ... WSJ 4:35 ... BEQ 4:27 ... MGWC untimed*
*but surprisingly easy... except for the meta-puzzle.
*but surprisingly easy... except for the meta-puzzle.
Thursday, 5/21/09
NYT 2:17 ... LAT 2:05 ... CS 1:57 ... ND 2:16
Pulling an all-nighter here before my 7am flight to San Francisco... I'll definitely get to the Friday puzzles, but it might be a crossword-free weekend! Perish the thought.
Pulling an all-nighter here before my 7am flight to San Francisco... I'll definitely get to the Friday puzzles, but it might be a crossword-free weekend! Perish the thought.
Wednesday, 5/20/09
NYT 2:21 ... LAT 1:56 ... CS 2:30 ... ND 1:47 ... BEQ 2:38
-Loved Ashish's supersized grid in the NYT, and loved that I noticed it was supersized while solving, because often I don't;
-apparently the rumors I started about Rich Norris leaving CrosSynergy were slightly exaggerated;
-and Brendan Quigley used my brilliant theme idea today.
-Loved Ashish's supersized grid in the NYT, and loved that I noticed it was supersized while solving, because often I don't;
-apparently the rumors I started about Rich Norris leaving CrosSynergy were slightly exaggerated;
-and Brendan Quigley used my brilliant theme idea today.
Monday, 5/18/09
NYT 1:41 ... LAT 1:25 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 1:22 ... JON 3:00 ... BEQ 3:19
I'm traveling most of the next two weeks, and when I'm not traveling, I'm packing up my stuff and moving it 94 blocks south (and about 4 blocks east). So there will be even less of the brilliant analysis you have come not to expect here! If I get behind, as I'm sure I will by the end of the month, I'll eventually solve all the puzzles and update my times.
I'm traveling most of the next two weeks, and when I'm not traveling, I'm packing up my stuff and moving it 94 blocks south (and about 4 blocks east). So there will be even less of the brilliant analysis you have come not to expect here! If I get behind, as I'm sure I will by the end of the month, I'll eventually solve all the puzzles and update my times.
Sunday, 5/16/09
NYT 6:06 ... LAT 4:29 ... MR 4:27 ... BG 5:13 ... ND 3:48 ... LATB 5:37 ... CS 3:59 ... Takeaway 10:15
Saturday, 5/16/09
NYT 3:29 ... LAT 1:56 ... CS 1:36 ... ND 4:34
So the Byron/Tyler collaboration wasn't scary (or crazy-gimmicky) after all - just a great themeless with lots of gimmes, starting with 1-Across. The LAT by Michael Wiesenberg is pretty impressive - only64 66 words but nothing even remotely obscure (maybe COPRA and PEELE), the perfect recipe for a speedy solve.
So the Byron/Tyler collaboration wasn't scary (or crazy-gimmicky) after all - just a great themeless with lots of gimmes, starting with 1-Across. The LAT by Michael Wiesenberg is pretty impressive - only
Friday, 5/15/09
NYT 3:44 ... LAT 2:28 ... CS 2:15 ... ND 2:25 ... CHE 3:08 ... WSJ 5:35 ... BEQ 3:08 ... MGWCC 2:52
A double-Doug day is always good (Newsday, LAT), and when was the last time we got a new 21x21 by Peter Gordon?
A double-Doug day is always good (Newsday, LAT), and when was the last time we got a new 21x21 by Peter Gordon?
Thursday, 5/14/09
NYT 3:17 ... LAT 1:39 ... CS 1:34 ... ND 1:45
I think I've seen the NYT "theme" before, and I thought it was also by David Kahn, but I can't find it in his NYT oeuvre.
...oh good, I won't be wondering all day - Kahn fesses up on the Wordplay blog! Here 'tis.
I think I've seen the NYT "theme" before, and I thought it was also by David Kahn, but I can't find it in his NYT oeuvre.
...oh good, I won't be wondering all day - Kahn fesses up on the Wordplay blog! Here 'tis.
Wednesday, 5/13/09
NYT 1:54 ... LAT 1:52 ... CS 1:31 ... ND 1:45 ... BEQ 2:33
Ha, TABLE TENNIS! That'll get your puzzle accepted by Will Shortz! (It's an excellent grid, but that one's easily the weakest theme answer. POLO GROUNDS, anyone?)
Ha, TABLE TENNIS! That'll get your puzzle accepted by Will Shortz! (It's an excellent grid, but that one's easily the weakest theme answer. POLO GROUNDS, anyone?)
Tuesday, 5/12/09
NYT 2:00 ... LAT 1:51 ... CS 1:37 ... ND 1:28 ... BT 2:54 ... TO 5:55*
Doing the NYT in Across Lite is weird! Add 3 seconds to my AL time for an applet approximation (1-2 seconds for the grid to show up, 1-2 seconds to get the cursor to DONE!)...
Late update: Okay, Byron's Onion puzzle is way too hard. I couldn't finish without guessing letters for three different boxes! (In retrospect I could maybe have figured out 21D.) And sadly, I wasn't even amused by the six dirty theme answers. (And sadly, it's probably just me, as Amy did just fine.) Hey, how weird is it that Tausig's and Byron's puzzles this week have the same 1-Across?
Doing the NYT in Across Lite is weird! Add 3 seconds to my AL time for an applet approximation (1-2 seconds for the grid to show up, 1-2 seconds to get the cursor to DONE!)...
Late update: Okay, Byron's Onion puzzle is way too hard. I couldn't finish without guessing letters for three different boxes! (In retrospect I could maybe have figured out 21D.) And sadly, I wasn't even amused by the six dirty theme answers. (And sadly, it's probably just me, as Amy did just fine.) Hey, how weird is it that Tausig's and Byron's puzzles this week have the same 1-Across?
Monday, 5/11/09
NYT 1:22 ... LAT 1:32 ... CS 1:21 ... ND 1:27 ... JON 2:15 ... BEQ 4:16 ... TPP Vowelless 12:45
Today was the first time in a while that I hit the NYT applet "cold" - no warming up with old puzzles or the other dailies. What do I get? My fastest time ever. Maybe it's time to retire from the applet, I think I've shown off enough (and it's been a while since someone beat me)...
Today was the first time in a while that I hit the NYT applet "cold" - no warming up with old puzzles or the other dailies. What do I get? My fastest time ever. Maybe it's time to retire from the applet, I think I've shown off enough (and it's been a while since someone beat me)...
Sunday, 5/10/09
NYT 6:57 ... LAT 5:23 ... MR 5:19 ... BG 4:11 ... ND 3:30 ... LATB 4:27 ... CS 2:42 ... Acrostic 8:10
Toughie NYT by Patrick Berry. That SW corner is going to annoy people, but my error on first submission was MOYLE/BORIC up top. (oops, and I meant to add... hey it's JOON!)
Won't get to the others until tomorrow evening. Not that anyone cares!
Doug P. + Newsday = Sunday record; another blooper in the Bursztyn (82D); Paula G's Sunday Challenge is harder than usual.
Toughie NYT by Patrick Berry. That SW corner is going to annoy people, but my error on first submission was MOYLE/BORIC up top. (oops, and I meant to add... hey it's JOON!)
Doug P. + Newsday = Sunday record; another blooper in the Bursztyn (82D); Paula G's Sunday Challenge is harder than usual.
Friday, 5/8/09
NYT 3:11 ... LAT 2:21 ... CS 1:48 ... ND 2:18 ... CHE 2:27 ... WSJ 6:08 ... BEQ 4:34 ... MGWC 3:20
Great fun from Ms. Gorski in the WSJ - it took me too many crosses to see the central theme answers. BEQ has another crunchy themeless to go with John Farmer's smooth one in the NYT. And Dan Naddor brings us a 70-word grid with 5 theme answers. Jeezum.
Great fun from Ms. Gorski in the WSJ - it took me too many crosses to see the central theme answers. BEQ has another crunchy themeless to go with John Farmer's smooth one in the NYT. And Dan Naddor brings us a 70-word grid with 5 theme answers. Jeezum.
Thursday, 5/7/09
NYT 4:49 ... LAT 2:11 ... CS 1:48 ... ND 1:48
Liz Gorski's NYT was as tricky as advertised. I was done at about 4:00, but as always with a non-standard rebus, had to figure out how the applet wants us to enter the strange squares... my first try was a C in every corner, but it worked when I went with the Across versions.
Newsday today by Sandy Fein has a nice Scrabbly fill. Oh yeah, I appeared twice on Dinner Impossible, once trying unsuccessfully to get out of the way of the cameras (before the A finals), and once trying unsuccessfully to solve a food puzzle. Fortunately, they edited out the long seconds of stumpage, and skipped to the part where they basically gave me the answer...
Liz Gorski's NYT was as tricky as advertised. I was done at about 4:00, but as always with a non-standard rebus, had to figure out how the applet wants us to enter the strange squares... my first try was a C in every corner, but it worked when I went with the Across versions.
Newsday today by Sandy Fein has a nice Scrabbly fill. Oh yeah, I appeared twice on Dinner Impossible, once trying unsuccessfully to get out of the way of the cameras (before the A finals), and once trying unsuccessfully to solve a food puzzle. Fortunately, they edited out the long seconds of stumpage, and skipped to the part where they basically gave me the answer...
Wednesday, 5/6/09
NYT 2:05 ... LAT 2:07 ... CS 1:59 ... ND 1:58 ... BEQ 3:41
HEMP, STONED and UPINSMOKE in the NYT fill? (Not to mention SPANKED.) I raise a joint to you, Michael Callaway Barnhart!
By the way, Dinner: Impossible (ACPT Edition) airs tonight on the Food Network... check your local listings!
HEMP, STONED and UPINSMOKE in the NYT fill? (Not to mention SPANKED.) I raise a joint to you, Michael Callaway Barnhart!
By the way, Dinner: Impossible (ACPT Edition) airs tonight on the Food Network... check your local listings!
Sunday, 5/3/09
NYT 5:32 ... LAT 4:00 ... MR 4:58 ... BG 3:48 ... ND 3:38 ... LATB 4:44 ... CS 2:03 ... Cryptic untimed
Gonna print out the cryptic and give it a look - the New Yorker ones are taking me under 10 minutes now, so I think I have a shot at the NYT's...
[updated 24 hours later] Indeed, it wasn't too tricky. My girlfriend (hereafter G, which is her first initial, conveniently enough) was interested in the cryptic thing, so we worked on it together. Usually I'd get an answer, show her the definition and type of wordplay, and let her take a crack, often successfully... but she figured out GUERRILLAS before I did!
Gonna print out the cryptic and give it a look - the New Yorker ones are taking me under 10 minutes now, so I think I have a shot at the NYT's...
[updated 24 hours later] Indeed, it wasn't too tricky. My girlfriend (hereafter G, which is her first initial, conveniently enough) was interested in the cryptic thing, so we worked on it together. Usually I'd get an answer, show her the definition and type of wordplay, and let her take a crack, often successfully... but she figured out GUERRILLAS before I did!
Saturday, 5/2/09
NYT 3:00 ... LAT 2:32 ... CS 3:01 ... ND 9:10
Tonight, I'm actually glad the themed NYT Saturday was extra-easy and not extra-hard. Gotta get up early! Good fill considering the diagonal constraint, but couldn't we have gone with a lower word count so it would look a little like a Saturday puzzle? (Dan Naddor could have.) I kid, I liked it fine, no complaints because I always call for More Themed Saturdays!
S.N., all is forgiven! Loved the Stumper, very hard but with pop culture galore (for Stan) and a fantastic grid. That bottom stack has to be one of the best in history! DRDEMENTO/EDMCMAHON/ROCKSTARS. I had the most trouble with MENUOPTION, not helped by leaving CPI instead of PSI - why I thought the answer would be the most literal interpretation of "inflation measure", I can't say.
Tonight, I'm actually glad the themed NYT Saturday was extra-easy and not extra-hard. Gotta get up early! Good fill considering the diagonal constraint, but couldn't we have gone with a lower word count so it would look a little like a Saturday puzzle? (Dan Naddor could have.) I kid, I liked it fine, no complaints because I always call for More Themed Saturdays!
S.N., all is forgiven! Loved the Stumper, very hard but with pop culture galore (for Stan) and a fantastic grid. That bottom stack has to be one of the best in history! DRDEMENTO/EDMCMAHON/ROCKSTARS. I had the most trouble with MENUOPTION, not helped by leaving CPI instead of PSI - why I thought the answer would be the most literal interpretation of "inflation measure", I can't say.
Friday, 5/1/09
NYT 3:46 ... LAT 2:45 ... CS 1:28 ... ND 2:00 ... CHE 2:45 ... WSJ 5:38 ... BEQ 4:40 ... MGWC 2:34
Nice double-shot of Doug Peterson in Newsday (including NEWSDAY in the fill!) and CrosSynergy. Then a super-sized Trip Payne in the CHE. And hey, I sort know LAT constructor Gareth Bain from the blogs (but haven't met him, since he's South African). What's next, Joon Pahk in the NYT? [Jaw drops upon opening applet]
Not as showy a fill as Joon's other themelesses, but smooth and chewy with great clues. JUT was my first fill and I immediately figured out CARJACK, and got lucky many times along the way with the right letters in place to crack the tough clues. [Biochemical arrangement] freaked me out when I had one letter, but when it was DN-? Gimme. Irony of ironies, the knottiest clue for me was ["___ in Love" ("Kismet" song)]. Don't know "Kismet", but I was sure I'd know the song even if it wasn't one of the famous ones. So I spent some time flicking the Rolodex before coming up empty and filling it from crosses.
Nice double-shot of Doug Peterson in Newsday (including NEWSDAY in the fill!) and CrosSynergy. Then a super-sized Trip Payne in the CHE. And hey, I sort know LAT constructor Gareth Bain from the blogs (but haven't met him, since he's South African). What's next, Joon Pahk in the NYT? [Jaw drops upon opening applet]
Not as showy a fill as Joon's other themelesses, but smooth and chewy with great clues. JUT was my first fill and I immediately figured out CARJACK, and got lucky many times along the way with the right letters in place to crack the tough clues. [Biochemical arrangement] freaked me out when I had one letter, but when it was DN-? Gimme. Irony of ironies, the knottiest clue for me was ["___ in Love" ("Kismet" song)]. Don't know "Kismet", but I was sure I'd know the song even if it wasn't one of the famous ones. So I spent some time flicking the Rolodex before coming up empty and filling it from crosses.
Thursday, 4/30/09
NYT 2:35 ... LAT 2:26 ... CS 2:09 ... ND 1:50
Feeling much better today... Great puzzles all around too. There's a mistake in the Newsday puzzle, where a couple of letters in 21D were changed (presumably last-minute), but the edited clues didn't make it into the online file.
Feeling much better today... Great puzzles all around too. There's a mistake in the Newsday puzzle, where a couple of letters in 21D were changed (presumably last-minute), but the edited clues didn't make it into the online file.
Wednesday, 4/29/09
NYT 2:34 ... LAT 1:37 ... CS 1:50 ... ND 1:40 ... BEQ 3:26
Could have been 15 seconds faster on the NYT, because I had STAND AND at the beginning of the central 15, expecting DELIVER to show up, and didn't look at it again until the applet rejected me. (My erroneous Down was ERN - obviously not an eyebrow-raiser...) Even though it's timely with 9 to 5 now in Broadway previews, two days in a row with short theme answers is pretty lame. I can imagine how the LA solvers felt! Speaking of which, I was really on Doug's wavelength for the LAT, which seems to be my Wednesday record, for what that's worth. ($0.00)
morning update... last night I felt great, today I feel like I have swine flu. (No fever, but I was pretty worried, having spent much of yesterday in Queens.) In other news, C.C. interviewed Doug today, and in other-other news, I may have my first crossword testing/proofing gig (if I don't keel over).
Could have been 15 seconds faster on the NYT, because I had STAND AND at the beginning of the central 15, expecting DELIVER to show up, and didn't look at it again until the applet rejected me. (My erroneous Down was ERN - obviously not an eyebrow-raiser...) Even though it's timely with 9 to 5 now in Broadway previews, two days in a row with short theme answers is pretty lame. I can imagine how the LA solvers felt! Speaking of which, I was really on Doug's wavelength for the LAT, which seems to be my Wednesday record, for what that's worth. ($0.00)
morning update... last night I felt great, today I feel like I have swine flu. (No fever, but I was pretty worried, having spent much of yesterday in Queens.) In other news, C.C. interviewed Doug today, and in other-other news, I may have my first crossword testing/proofing gig (if I don't keel over).
Monday, 4/27/09
NYT (p) 2:50 ... LAT 1:42 ... CS 1:39 ... ND 1:22 ... JON 5:37 ... BEQ 2:48
Solved the NYT last night at my aunt and uncle's house. I printed out copies for my mom and myself, and she finished in maybe 8 minutes! I had never seen the word HUMUS - or so I thought, because it was in a Sunday puzzle last year. Still, not a Monday word (even though Mom and aunt knew it immediately). And not a great showing for me, but I wasn't "warmed up" at all.
Holy crap, Matt Jones, nice 16x16 themeless featuring huge Longoesque white spaces! The fill's not bad at all, especially in the crazy center chunk. Spent a minute finishing the top section because WCT, LUXO, and ASHA were total unknowns and I couldn't figure out CRUISE from -R-I-E.
Solved the NYT last night at my aunt and uncle's house. I printed out copies for my mom and myself, and she finished in maybe 8 minutes! I had never seen the word HUMUS - or so I thought, because it was in a Sunday puzzle last year. Still, not a Monday word (even though Mom and aunt knew it immediately). And not a great showing for me, but I wasn't "warmed up" at all.
Holy crap, Matt Jones, nice 16x16 themeless featuring huge Longoesque white spaces! The fill's not bad at all, especially in the crazy center chunk. Spent a minute finishing the top section because WCT, LUXO, and ASHA were total unknowns and I couldn't figure out CRUISE from -R-I-E.
Sunday, 4/26/09
NYT 9:15 ... LAT 4:52 ... BG 4:54 ... MR 4:48 ... ND 4:00 ... LATB 3:47 ... CS 2:09 ... Acrostic 9:16
Trip Payne is my favorite constructor, so seeing him in the NYT is always great, but several dozen rebus squares? Bonus! (Ooh, and record-setting!) 56-Down was co-founded by Michael Colton, who joined Tyler Hinman to commentate on the Crosswords West/L.A. tournament yesterday.
Rich Norris's Sunday Challenge seems easier than his usual offering. Check out Shirley Soloway's Newsday puzzle - it's got a fun wordplay theme that I haven't seen before. Sylvia Bursztyn's theme is also pretty clever, though much easier.
Trip Payne is my favorite constructor, so seeing him in the NYT is always great, but several dozen rebus squares? Bonus! (Ooh, and record-setting!) 56-Down was co-founded by Michael Colton, who joined Tyler Hinman to commentate on the Crosswords West/L.A. tournament yesterday.
Rich Norris's Sunday Challenge seems easier than his usual offering. Check out Shirley Soloway's Newsday puzzle - it's got a fun wordplay theme that I haven't seen before. Sylvia Bursztyn's theme is also pretty clever, though much easier.
Saturday, 4/25/09
NYT 4:26 ... LAT 4:06 ... CS 1:52 ... ND 9:45
Again, the other puzzles beat me up before a quick NYT solve. On Doug's Stumper, I was staring at mostly blank space with about two patches filled until the 5-minute mark, but after a couple of guesses it came together. Strangely, I had more fun staring at empty boxes in last week's unpopular puzzle.
Again, the other puzzles beat me up before a quick NYT solve. On Doug's Stumper, I was staring at mostly blank space with about two patches filled until the 5-minute mark, but after a couple of guesses it came together. Strangely, I had more fun staring at empty boxes in last week's unpopular puzzle.
Friday, 4/24/09
NYT 3:09 ... LAT 3:25 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 2:15 ... CHE 3:07 ... WSJ 6:19 ... BEQ 4:35 ... MGWC 7:25*
Had some trouble spots with the LAT and CHE, but surprisingly not with the NYT.
afternoon update: Not fully on my game with the rest of the puzzles, especially BEQ's... Gaffney's contest crossword is fantastic (and hard!). According to Alex's tool I have a wrong letter somewhere, but I can't find it, and anyway I think I've got the metapuzzle figured out.
Had some trouble spots with the LAT and CHE, but surprisingly not with the NYT.
afternoon update: Not fully on my game with the rest of the puzzles, especially BEQ's... Gaffney's contest crossword is fantastic (and hard!). According to Alex's tool I have a wrong letter somewhere, but I can't find it, and anyway I think I've got the metapuzzle figured out.
Wednesday, 4/22/09
NYT 1:57 ... LAT 1:36 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 2:01 ... BEQ 2:44
Hmm, the applet isn't loading. Hmm, the Across Lite version isn't working either. Hmm, doesn't NYT Digital have someone in charge of this? Oh, she was recently fired?
Glad I checked Wordplay (despite the risk of spoilers) and found Jim's Across Lite puzzle before printing Amy's PDF. Obviously, I haven't yet confirmed my solution is correct, but nothing was questionable. I quickly realized that there would be a picture of a boat, and the answers referencing it would be parts of said boat. Clever idea, but I didn't like it much - it's basically a 78-word, Tuesday-level themeless with six unclued entries. Actually, that sounds kinda fun...
Hmm, the applet isn't loading. Hmm, the Across Lite version isn't working either. Hmm, doesn't NYT Digital have someone in charge of this? Oh, she was recently fired?
Glad I checked Wordplay (despite the risk of spoilers) and found Jim's Across Lite puzzle before printing Amy's PDF. Obviously, I haven't yet confirmed my solution is correct, but nothing was questionable. I quickly realized that there would be a picture of a boat, and the answers referencing it would be parts of said boat. Clever idea, but I didn't like it much - it's basically a 78-word, Tuesday-level themeless with six unclued entries. Actually, that sounds kinda fun...
Tuesday, 4/21/09
NYT 1:32 ... LAT 1:50 ... CS 1:32 ... ND 1:32 ... BT 2:40 ... TO 2:06
Today's NYT might be the fastest I've ever nailed a theme. After the first 4 Downs went in I had TINK-, and when TINKERSHORTSTOP fit, I was like, "No way, all three names-plus-positions are 15 letters?" So I went and filled in the other 15s lickety-split, and started solving at the bottom right to confirm COMBO.
Alex reminded me that I didn't answer the clue I posted: John (words) and Paul (music), six letters ending in S. Answer in the comments!
Today's NYT might be the fastest I've ever nailed a theme. After the first 4 Downs went in I had TINK-, and when TINKERSHORTSTOP fit, I was like, "No way, all three names-plus-positions are 15 letters?" So I went and filled in the other 15s lickety-split, and started solving at the bottom right to confirm COMBO.
Alex reminded me that I didn't answer the clue I posted: John (words) and Paul (music), six letters ending in S. Answer in the comments!
Sunday, 4/19/09
NYT 5:50 ... LAT 4:19 ... MR 4:46 ... BG 4:22 ... ND 3:46 ... LATB 4:56 ... CS 3:12
It's been a while since I finished a Sunday puzzle without figuring out the theme, but that's what happened with the NYT. Was the Sunday Challenge a bit harder than usual, or was I just not in the usual groove with Martin Ashwood-Smith? Maybe both?
By the way, I got absolutely nowhere with the first puzzle in Justin's Metacross Contest... well, I filled the crossword, but couldn't arrange the colored squares into anything useful.
Late edit: The Diagramless turned out to be the same one I solved Friday night at the ACPT. It was still fun the second time around!
It's been a while since I finished a Sunday puzzle without figuring out the theme, but that's what happened with the NYT. Was the Sunday Challenge a bit harder than usual, or was I just not in the usual groove with Martin Ashwood-Smith? Maybe both?
By the way, I got absolutely nowhere with the first puzzle in Justin's Metacross Contest... well, I filled the crossword, but couldn't arrange the colored squares into anything useful.
Late edit: The Diagramless turned out to be the same one I solved Friday night at the ACPT. It was still fun the second time around!
Friday, 4/17/09
NYT 3:00 ... LAT 2:47 ... CS 2:51 ... ND 1:46 ... CHE 2:03 ... WSJ 4:24 ... BEQ 2:55 ... MGWC 3:44
Thursday, 4/16/09
NYT 2:31 ... LAT 1:47 ... CS 1:32 ... ND 1:33
Hey, if you weren't aware, Justin Smith is starting a "MetaCross Contest" today. I haven't spent much time at Justin's Puzzles because they're too hard... or rather, I have no idea how to solve those kinds of brainteasers. But crosswords I understand! So I encourage you all to kick my ass in Justin's contest.
Hey, if you weren't aware, Justin Smith is starting a "MetaCross Contest" today. I haven't spent much time at Justin's Puzzles because they're too hard... or rather, I have no idea how to solve those kinds of brainteasers. But crosswords I understand! So I encourage you all to kick my ass in Justin's contest.
Wednesday, 4/15/09
NYT (p) 2:51 ... LAT 2:19 ... CS 1:53 ... ND 1:43 ... BEQ 3:50
NYT was Puzzle 4 at the BCPT.
Check out the great interview with Dan Naddor at Crossword Corner! Amazing that he didn't start submitting until 2006, but will be over 100 published puzzles soon. He hasn't ruled out submitting to the NYT, it's just that he's gotten into quite a groove with Rich Norris...
NYT was Puzzle 4 at the BCPT.
Check out the great interview with Dan Naddor at Crossword Corner! Amazing that he didn't start submitting until 2006, but will be over 100 published puzzles soon. He hasn't ruled out submitting to the NYT, it's just that he's gotten into quite a groove with Rich Norris...
Tuesday, 4/14/09
NYT (p) 3:07 ... LAT 1:29 ... CS 1:47 ... ND 1:19 ... BT 3:02 ... TO 2:11
The NYT was Puzzle 3 at the BCPT. I got kinda stuck near the corner of ATEDIRT (which I couldn't parse until the whole answer appeared) and DISSIDENT (which I wrote, erased, and re-wrote).
Yesterday (technically today as I write this, but it says "Tuesday" up top), I solved this old CS puzzle on paper in 1:49. [See below for visual "proof".] It felt like a record pace halfway through, but I managed not to choke! Long answers helped - there were about a dozen clues I didn't even see. Two of my personal fastest puzzles now are by Martin Ashwood-Smith, two by Peter Gordon. They're smooth!
The NYT was Puzzle 3 at the BCPT. I got kinda stuck near the corner of ATEDIRT (which I couldn't parse until the whole answer appeared) and DISSIDENT (which I wrote, erased, and re-wrote).
Yesterday (technically today as I write this, but it says "Tuesday" up top), I solved this old CS puzzle on paper in 1:49. [See below for visual "proof".] It felt like a record pace halfway through, but I managed not to choke! Long answers helped - there were about a dozen clues I didn't even see. Two of my personal fastest puzzles now are by Martin Ashwood-Smith, two by Peter Gordon. They're smooth!
Monday, 4/13/09
NYT 1:34 ... LAT 1:38 ... CS 1:44 ... ND 1:27 ... JON 2:09 ... BEQ 3:01
Personal record in the NYT applet, thanks to Natan Last's wide-open Monday puzzle.
Was on a record pace in the Jonesin', but ran into three consecutive answers I've never heard of near the bottom, including two themes. Well, 2.3 things I've never heard of, because "EEESTEVEZ" could be inferred.
Personal record in the NYT applet, thanks to Natan Last's wide-open Monday puzzle.
Was on a record pace in the Jonesin', but ran into three consecutive answers I've never heard of near the bottom, including two themes. Well, 2.3 things I've never heard of, because "EEESTEVEZ" could be inferred.
Sunday, 4/12/09
NYT 4:57 ... LAT 3:49 ... BG 6:29 ... MR 6:44 ... ND 4:00 ... LATB 5:09 ... CS 1:49 ... Acrostic 17:16
The Hex and Reagle puzzles both gave me some trouble. Apparently I don't know very many Beatles songs! Fortunately, Eric Berlin's excellent NYT got me smiling, both at the fun fill and at my solving time.
In ten years, Nancy Salomon has apparently never made a Sunday Challenge for CrosSynergy. Her 72-worder today is extremely smooth, of course, but way easy.
Miscellany...
I've officially started solving cryptic crosswords! It took less than a half-hour to finish the first two puzzles in 101 Cryptic Crosswords (and grok all the clues), so it hasn't been too scary. I'm missing some obvious cue words, and solving "backwards" often (guessing the answer off of crossings and a definition word), but I suspect that pretty soon I'll be looking for recommendations on the next difficulty level...
Got my new World's Most Ornery Crosswords collection! Unlike the copy I tossed in the BCPT prize pool, this one doesn't have the fancy fold-out design for accessing the Easy clues. But it's easy enough to tear out the Easy clue pages.
Nice synergy with today's Boston Globe: Ornery #2 by Cox/Rathvon contains what may be my favorite clue of all time: [John (words) and Paul (music)]. Six letters ending in S...
The Hex and Reagle puzzles both gave me some trouble. Apparently I don't know very many Beatles songs! Fortunately, Eric Berlin's excellent NYT got me smiling, both at the fun fill and at my solving time.
In ten years, Nancy Salomon has apparently never made a Sunday Challenge for CrosSynergy. Her 72-worder today is extremely smooth, of course, but way easy.
Miscellany...
I've officially started solving cryptic crosswords! It took less than a half-hour to finish the first two puzzles in 101 Cryptic Crosswords (and grok all the clues), so it hasn't been too scary. I'm missing some obvious cue words, and solving "backwards" often (guessing the answer off of crossings and a definition word), but I suspect that pretty soon I'll be looking for recommendations on the next difficulty level...
Got my new World's Most Ornery Crosswords collection! Unlike the copy I tossed in the BCPT prize pool, this one doesn't have the fancy fold-out design for accessing the Easy clues. But it's easy enough to tear out the Easy clue pages.
Nice synergy with today's Boston Globe: Ornery #2 by Cox/Rathvon contains what may be my favorite clue of all time: [John (words) and Paul (music)]. Six letters ending in S...
Saturday, 4/11/09
NYT 4:01 ... LAT 3:28 ... ND 3:18 ... CS 1:40
My fastest Saturday Stumper by far, due to a large number of fact- and pop-culture-based clues. Without crossings I knew 14-, 15-, 16-, 18-, 51- and 60- Across, and the Q was enough for me to slap down LIQUOR CABINET. Wonder if others will find this the easiest themeless of the day...
The NYT was similarly quick because of some good guesses, and because, well, Karen M. Tracey's Scrabbliness is predictable even though it's awesome. For instance, I guessed TELEXES with no crossings and happily confirmed it with YAKETY SAX. I could go on but my gf is ready for brunch. I'll just say: CRES is not a musical score abbr. unless you're willing to go var....
My fastest Saturday Stumper by far, due to a large number of fact- and pop-culture-based clues. Without crossings I knew 14-, 15-, 16-, 18-, 51- and 60- Across, and the Q was enough for me to slap down LIQUOR CABINET. Wonder if others will find this the easiest themeless of the day...
The NYT was similarly quick because of some good guesses, and because, well, Karen M. Tracey's Scrabbliness is predictable even though it's awesome. For instance, I guessed TELEXES with no crossings and happily confirmed it with YAKETY SAX. I could go on but my gf is ready for brunch. I'll just say: CRES is not a musical score abbr. unless you're willing to go var....
Friday, 4/10/09
NYT 4:06 ... LAT 2:47 ... CS 1:55 ... ND 2:35 ... CHE 2:13 ... WSJ 4:53 ... BEQ 2:33 ... MGWCC 3:44
Thursday, 4/9/09
NYT 2:33 ... LAT 2:22 ... CS 2:02 ... ND 1:55
Yay, another double-Blindauer day! ...even though the CS puzzle is basically the same "double" theme as ACPT Puzzle 4. I'm guessing PB2 and Tony Orbach originally made their NYT puzzle for Peter Gordon, but fortunately Will Shortz was able to give it a good home.
Yay, another double-Blindauer day! ...even though the CS puzzle is basically the same "double" theme as ACPT Puzzle 4. I'm guessing PB2 and Tony Orbach originally made their NYT puzzle for Peter Gordon, but fortunately Will Shortz was able to give it a good home.
Wednesday, 4/8/09
NYT 2:20 ... LAT 2:12 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 1:38 ... BEQ 2:58
C.C. interviewed me for Crossword Corner, an excellent blog that used to cover the defunct Tribune Media Services syndicate, and now covers the LAT crossword.
C.C. interviewed me for Crossword Corner, an excellent blog that used to cover the defunct Tribune Media Services syndicate, and now covers the LAT crossword.
Tuesday, 4/7/09
NYT (p) 2:23 ... LAT 1:51 ... CS 1:44 ... ND 1:29 ... BT 2:52 ... TO 2:58
Again, solved Joon's excellent NYT up at Harvard. I'm not going to do a whole post on the BCPT - there's not much to add that wasn't covered in Joon's recap and R&B's podcast...
There's only one thing to say about Doug Peterson's CS puzzle: 48-Down.
Again, solved Joon's excellent NYT up at Harvard. I'm not going to do a whole post on the BCPT - there's not much to add that wasn't covered in Joon's recap and R&B's podcast...
There's only one thing to say about Doug Peterson's CS puzzle: 48-Down.
Monday, 4/6/09
NYT (p) 2:08 ... LAT 2:00 ... CS 2:05 ... ND 1:42 ... JON 2:07 ... BEQ 3:09
Solved the NYT at the Boston Crossword Puzzle Tournament... Fabulous fill in Lynn Lempel's CS... Got a bit stuck in the SW of BEQ's funny meta-themed puzzle.
Solved the NYT at the Boston Crossword Puzzle Tournament... Fabulous fill in Lynn Lempel's CS... Got a bit stuck in the SW of BEQ's funny meta-themed puzzle.
Sunday, 4/5/09
NYT (p) 8:16 ... LAT 4:17 ... MR (p) 7:29 ... BG (p) 6:45 ... ND 4:16 ... LATB 5:00 ... CS 4:16 ... Pathfinder ~10min
Heading to Boston for the day tomorrow! Joon and I will finally meet, and I hope to fake-win the tournament. In that I won't compete, but I'll solve along and compare times with the Bostonians. Props to Ryan and Brian for giving me a lift! I suppose I'll have a recap here at some point.
Pathfinder! Love this variety and have actually solved a few recently. This one came together pretty quickly (didn't use the stopwatch), with easier clues than the ones in Twisted Crosswords. I remember the first one of Hook's I tried took three or four stabs to finish because of the different kind of logic involved.
Heading to Boston for the day tomorrow! Joon and I will finally meet, and I hope to fake-win the tournament. In that I won't compete, but I'll solve along and compare times with the Bostonians. Props to Ryan and Brian for giving me a lift! I suppose I'll have a recap here at some point.
Pathfinder! Love this variety and have actually solved a few recently. This one came together pretty quickly (didn't use the stopwatch), with easier clues than the ones in Twisted Crosswords. I remember the first one of Hook's I tried took three or four stabs to finish because of the different kind of logic involved.
Friday, 4/3/09
NYT 3:53 ... LAT 2:20 ... CS 2:11 ... ND 2:01 ... CHE 2:15 ... WSJ 5:43 ... BEQ 3:19 ... MGWC 2:31
Thursday, 4/2/09
NYT 2:00 ... LAT 2:08 ... CS 1:55 ... ND 2:10
Yes, the Newsday puzzle took me longer than the others! I couldn't make much headway in the top half (for some reason, [Pipeline place] starting with AL didn't ring any bells) and had to solve bottom-up. Actual time was about 2:00 but I had to find a typo.
On the NYT, wish I'd gotten the cursor up to DONE! just a second sooner, but I'll take it. Damn, seven theme answers and ten Xs. Now to watch today's Jeopardy!!
Like the real crossword bloggers, I was contacted by Puzzlewright Press about their new Twitter feed. I'm resisting Twitter, but I'll put up a permanent link to the free daily puzzle. Check it out! I'd be more excited if there weren't any sudoku involved, but man, when a sample Vwllss goes up...
Hey, remember a few days ago when I was salivating over GAMES The World's Most Ornery Crosswords, Volume 1? It arrived today, in near-mint condition. Thirty-two 25x25 crosswords (not all themeless, it appears), by the best in the biz, edited by Will Shortz. There's a neat fold-out-and-over design to accomodate the Easy clues, though I imagine they'll stay un-folded. Whoa, I just saw Merl Reagle has a triple stack of 25s in one puzzle. Anyway, the fact that the puzzles are from 1977-1992 only makes it more fun. Sadly, like the Variety Crosswords, there doesn't appear to be a Volume 2. And now it's really time to stop buying puzzle books for a while...
Yes, the Newsday puzzle took me longer than the others! I couldn't make much headway in the top half (for some reason, [Pipeline place] starting with AL didn't ring any bells) and had to solve bottom-up. Actual time was about 2:00 but I had to find a typo.
On the NYT, wish I'd gotten the cursor up to DONE! just a second sooner, but I'll take it. Damn, seven theme answers and ten Xs. Now to watch today's Jeopardy!!
Like the real crossword bloggers, I was contacted by Puzzlewright Press about their new Twitter feed. I'm resisting Twitter, but I'll put up a permanent link to the free daily puzzle. Check it out! I'd be more excited if there weren't any sudoku involved, but man, when a sample Vwllss goes up...
Hey, remember a few days ago when I was salivating over GAMES The World's Most Ornery Crosswords, Volume 1? It arrived today, in near-mint condition. Thirty-two 25x25 crosswords (not all themeless, it appears), by the best in the biz, edited by Will Shortz. There's a neat fold-out-and-over design to accomodate the Easy clues, though I imagine they'll stay un-folded. Whoa, I just saw Merl Reagle has a triple stack of 25s in one puzzle. Anyway, the fact that the puzzles are from 1977-1992 only makes it more fun. Sadly, like the Variety Crosswords, there doesn't appear to be a Volume 2. And now it's really time to stop buying puzzle books for a while...
Wednesday, 4/1/09
NYT 2:29 ... LAT 1:35 ... CS 1:36 ... ND 1:47 ... "BEQ" 2:32
Finished the NYT about 15 seconds faster but had a typo. Very nice April Fool's offering for a Wednesday - I guess next year we can look forward to a real twist...
Finished the NYT about 15 seconds faster but had a typo. Very nice April Fool's offering for a Wednesday - I guess next year we can look forward to a real twist...
Monday, 3/30/09
NYT 1:52 ... LAT 1:43 ... CS 1:59 ... ND 1:37 ... JON 3:03 ... BEQ 2:49
Thanks to Alex's Across Lite-ification tool, I'm adding the Sunday LAT Sylvia Burzstyn puzzle ("LATB") and the daily Newsday to my routine...
Thanks to Alex's Across Lite-ification tool, I'm adding the Sunday LAT Sylvia Burzstyn puzzle ("LATB") and the daily Newsday to my routine...
Sunday, 3/29/09
NYT 5:17 ... LAT 5:06 ... BG 5:47 ... MR 4:47 ... ND 4:04 ... LATB 4:19 ... CS 3:06 ... Acrostic 8:20
I discovered the theme (from the first long entry, then jumping down to EIFFEL TOWER) and rebus (from [ET]AGERES, when SPHERES wasn't working) very quickly in Liz Gorski's NYT. It escaped me that ET stands for Eiffel Tower, but I did catch the FRENCH CONNECTION.
Elsewhere, I love Rich Norris, and there are even more great entries than usual in his CS crossword, but CHACHKAS? No.
I discovered the theme (from the first long entry, then jumping down to EIFFEL TOWER) and rebus (from [ET]AGERES, when SPHERES wasn't working) very quickly in Liz Gorski's NYT. It escaped me that ET stands for Eiffel Tower, but I did catch the FRENCH CONNECTION.
Elsewhere, I love Rich Norris, and there are even more great entries than usual in his CS crossword, but CHACHKAS? No.
Saturday, 3/28/09
NYT 4:54 ... LAT 2:36 ... CS 1:52 ... ND 8:21
Had an unusual amount of trouble with Doug Peterson's Stumper. The top right in particular, and whole top half, have some really rough clues. Should have remembered much earlier that "All Quiet on the Western Front" is not by ZANE GREY. Right idea, wrong Scrabbly letter! (Er, wrong continent?) My other excuse was that solving in Across Lite felt wrong somehow...
Oh, and Joe Krozel's NYT ties for second place all-time with 19 black squares. Sweet!
In other news, Games Magazine Presents Variety Crossword Puzzles, Volume One is now in my hot little hands. About half of the 50 puzzles are crosswords with a twist or post-solve puzzle. There are a few diagramlesses and cryptics, and one each of all the GAMESy variety grids like Pencil Pointers, Spiral, Petal, Marching Bands, etc., including a couple I've never seen. The only drawback is that not ALL of the puzzles are by Berry, Payne, Hook, Shenk, Shortz, Reagle, Ross... just most of them. I don't think there's a Volume 2, but OMG there's a GAMES compilation of World's Most Ornery Crosswords?!? *click*
Had an unusual amount of trouble with Doug Peterson's Stumper. The top right in particular, and whole top half, have some really rough clues. Should have remembered much earlier that "All Quiet on the Western Front" is not by ZANE GREY. Right idea, wrong Scrabbly letter! (Er, wrong continent?) My other excuse was that solving in Across Lite felt wrong somehow...
Oh, and Joe Krozel's NYT ties for second place all-time with 19 black squares. Sweet!
In other news, Games Magazine Presents Variety Crossword Puzzles, Volume One is now in my hot little hands. About half of the 50 puzzles are crosswords with a twist or post-solve puzzle. There are a few diagramlesses and cryptics, and one each of all the GAMESy variety grids like Pencil Pointers, Spiral, Petal, Marching Bands, etc., including a couple I've never seen. The only drawback is that not ALL of the puzzles are by Berry, Payne, Hook, Shenk, Shortz, Reagle, Ross... just most of them. I don't think there's a Volume 2, but OMG there's a GAMES compilation of World's Most Ornery Crosswords?!? *click*
Friday, 3/27/09
NYT 6:30 ... LAT 2:29 ... CS 1:53 ... CHE 3:09 ... WSJ 4:29 ... BEQ 3:03 ... MGWC 6:10
Almost half my NYT solving time was in the SW quadrant. BAGUETTES, ICECAVES, STEPCUT totally unknown. I should have seen through the CALMEST clue quicker, though. As for the marquee answer? Hated it.
update... Glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't know and/or didn't like BIMBO ERUPTION...
My puzzle books have all arrived except for the old GAMES compilation. As I suspected, Mind-Challenge Puzzle Book is useless... I already own Take Flight and Twisted Crosswords, and have no interest in Pixel Puzzles or Lateral Thinking. But the UltraHard Omnibus is better than expected (many crosswords by Trip Payne) and the Henry Hook Trivia Challenge is just as awesome as Ellen promised...
update again... Matt Gaffney's contest this week is very cool... in a way, he's one-upped BEQ's outside-the-box gimmicks. I figured out the metapuzzle very quickly this time, but it's not as hard as last week's (which I didn't get at all).
Almost half my NYT solving time was in the SW quadrant. BAGUETTES, ICECAVES, STEPCUT totally unknown. I should have seen through the CALMEST clue quicker, though. As for the marquee answer? Hated it.
update... Glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't know and/or didn't like BIMBO ERUPTION...
My puzzle books have all arrived except for the old GAMES compilation. As I suspected, Mind-Challenge Puzzle Book is useless... I already own Take Flight and Twisted Crosswords, and have no interest in Pixel Puzzles or Lateral Thinking. But the UltraHard Omnibus is better than expected (many crosswords by Trip Payne) and the Henry Hook Trivia Challenge is just as awesome as Ellen promised...
update again... Matt Gaffney's contest this week is very cool... in a way, he's one-upped BEQ's outside-the-box gimmicks. I figured out the metapuzzle very quickly this time, but it's not as hard as last week's (which I didn't get at all).
Thursday, 3/26/09
NYT about 4:00* ... LAT 2:40 ... CS 1:52
Whoa... weird deja vu with the NYT puzzle! I opened the applet and worked out the NW corner. The first theme answer had ALITT filled in, so I glanced at the clue, filled in A LITTLE MADNESS - and stopped cold. How did I know that? I don't know any poetry. Have I solved this puzzle before? How would that be possible? As I filled in the rest of the verse, which looked so pretty all by itself in the grid, I realized what it was.
No, not the previous NYT puzzle with the exact same quote (thanks Tuning Spork for the find). Two days ago, I solved yet another puzzle with that same Dickinson poem, which breaks down so nicely for a 15x15 theme: Simon & Schuster Mega Crossword Book #2, puzzle #25 by Georgia Ellis. Two days ago! I ended up finishing the puzzle in the applet, in a relatively leisurely fashion, and not submitting because of the "advantage" I had. It occurs to me now that plenty of other solvers probably knew the quote already...
Whoa... weird deja vu with the NYT puzzle! I opened the applet and worked out the NW corner. The first theme answer had ALITT filled in, so I glanced at the clue, filled in A LITTLE MADNESS - and stopped cold. How did I know that? I don't know any poetry. Have I solved this puzzle before? How would that be possible? As I filled in the rest of the verse, which looked so pretty all by itself in the grid, I realized what it was.
No, not the previous NYT puzzle with the exact same quote (thanks Tuning Spork for the find). Two days ago, I solved yet another puzzle with that same Dickinson poem, which breaks down so nicely for a 15x15 theme: Simon & Schuster Mega Crossword Book #2, puzzle #25 by Georgia Ellis. Two days ago! I ended up finishing the puzzle in the applet, in a relatively leisurely fashion, and not submitting because of the "advantage" I had. It occurs to me now that plenty of other solvers probably knew the quote already...
Sunday, 3/22/09
NYT (p) 7:29 ... LAT (p) 5:48 ... BG (p) 5:46 BG 6:05 ... MR (p) 7:50* ... CS (p) 2:42 ... Split Decisions 5:15
Joon, you didn't tell me you had a Sunday NYT too! I didn't have huge problems solving any of the weird fill (OK maybe LEE AAKER), but it does add up. Personally I'd rather have this high "freshness" than more common words, and I trust Shortz to draw the line.
Made an incorrect guess on Merl Reagle's puzzle, at the CATENA/FANON intersection. CATERA/FARON looked good enough, but N was my next guess. Here's how obscure CATENA is: its only database hit is a Bob Klahn Saturday puzzle from 2000. Paula Gamache's Sunday Challenge has great fill, as always, and too-easy clues, as always.
Oops - the wrong BG puzzle was posted and I failed to notice that I'd already solved it six weeks ago!
Joon, you didn't tell me you had a Sunday NYT too! I didn't have huge problems solving any of the weird fill (OK maybe LEE AAKER), but it does add up. Personally I'd rather have this high "freshness" than more common words, and I trust Shortz to draw the line.
Made an incorrect guess on Merl Reagle's puzzle, at the CATENA/FANON intersection. CATERA/FARON looked good enough, but N was my next guess. Here's how obscure CATENA is: its only database hit is a Bob Klahn Saturday puzzle from 2000. Paula Gamache's Sunday Challenge has great fill, as always, and too-easy clues, as always.
Oops - the wrong BG puzzle was posted and I failed to notice that I'd already solved it six weeks ago!
Saturday, 3/21/09
NYT 4:08 ... LAT 2:33 ... CS 2:08 ... ND 3:10
Going to write a little tonight because I'm gone all day tomorrow... Pretend these are comments on other blogs. Was it me, or was that one of the easiest Saturday Stumpers in the last couple years? Ray Hamel's puzzles are way more pop-culture-y than most Stumpers, which helps.
Great LAT from Doug Peterson, though not too challenging... mmm, ELISHA Cuthbert... whatever happened to her? Anyway, when TYPERS is the weakest entry, that's a rock-solid grid.
In the NYT, I liked the almost-mini-theme of "Forget it!" expressions; too bad Mr. Wolfe couldn't get one in the SE stack! Hardest area was the SE, where I couldn't get any of the nine-letter acrosses off the first few letters and had to peck around to finish. RANDALL Cunningham was my fantasy football quarterback for many years, and my favorite non-49ers player. Good to see him! Interesting that Shortz clued HAIM as Corey today, and Newman went with the Hebrew word that's usually spelled CHAIM.
Not to leave out El Blindito, whose genius CS theme I didn't figure out until after solving. I should have just taken the 10 or 15 seconds, after I had two themers filled in, to work it out so I could try puzzling out the other ones. Nobody cares if I break 2 minutes... gotta enjoy the crosswords too.
Going to write a little tonight because I'm gone all day tomorrow... Pretend these are comments on other blogs. Was it me, or was that one of the easiest Saturday Stumpers in the last couple years? Ray Hamel's puzzles are way more pop-culture-y than most Stumpers, which helps.
Great LAT from Doug Peterson, though not too challenging... mmm, ELISHA Cuthbert... whatever happened to her? Anyway, when TYPERS is the weakest entry, that's a rock-solid grid.
In the NYT, I liked the almost-mini-theme of "Forget it!" expressions; too bad Mr. Wolfe couldn't get one in the SE stack! Hardest area was the SE, where I couldn't get any of the nine-letter acrosses off the first few letters and had to peck around to finish. RANDALL Cunningham was my fantasy football quarterback for many years, and my favorite non-49ers player. Good to see him! Interesting that Shortz clued HAIM as Corey today, and Newman went with the Hebrew word that's usually spelled CHAIM.
Not to leave out El Blindito, whose genius CS theme I didn't figure out until after solving. I should have just taken the 10 or 15 seconds, after I had two themers filled in, to work it out so I could try puzzling out the other ones. Nobody cares if I break 2 minutes... gotta enjoy the crosswords too.
Friday, 3/20/09
NYT 2:55 ... LAT 2:44 ... CS 1:49 ... CHE 2:48 ... WSJ 6:34 ... BEQ 3:41 ... MGWC
Incredibly cool grid by David Levinson Wilk in the NYT. I believe he ties the record for most 15-letter answers in a 15x15 crossword (that would be 10). Joon Pahk's CHE is much more wide-open, and somewhat more difficult, than usual.
Incredibly cool grid by David Levinson Wilk in the NYT. I believe he ties the record for most 15-letter answers in a 15x15 crossword (that would be 10). Joon Pahk's CHE is much more wide-open, and somewhat more difficult, than usual.
Books, Books, Books
So exciting! I'm holding my very own copy of Puzzle Masterpieces by Patrick Berry. Elegant Challenges for Crossword Lovers is an apt subtitle, because the 40 variety crosswords inside are elegant and lovable. I've solved three puzzles so far, but I'll probably make the book last a year. After all, I have one and a half Henry Hook variety puzzle books to finish... and two more highly anticipated releases this year, Longo's Vowelless and Quigley's Diagramless crossword books.
Since I hadn't splurged in a while, I picked up a few more puzzle books from Amazon. Super Saver Shipping, dontcha know.
- Jonesin' for Crosswords by Matt Jones - I don't think I've solved any of these old Jonesin' puzzles.
- Cranium-Crushing Friday Crosswords (NY Sun) edited by Peter Gordon - I know I've solved most of these, but they're still good the second time around (and a year later)...
- 101 Cryptic Crosswords: From the New Yorker edited by Fraser Simpson - yes, it's time to learn cryptics! This is generally acknowledged as the best starter book. I also got Simpson's followup, which goes one better (102 Cryptic Crosswords).
- Will Shortz's X-Treme X-Words - alas, I got the ugly colorful cover instead of the badass black one. One of the few NYT books worth having despite overlapping with the online archives... good training for the A Division finals. :)
These used books haven't arrived yet:
- Random House UltraHard Crossword Omnibus, Volume 1 edited by Stanley Newman - bought it even though I own one of the five omnibus-ed books. It's 250 vintage Saturday Stumpers from the '90s. They're not as hard as today's, except for 15 bona fide ultra-hard stumpers (I haven't been able to finish the three I've tried).
- Random House $10,000 Trivia Challenge by Henry Hook - not sure what the meta-puzzle aspect is, but you can't go wrong with Hook. (Another meta Hook book, Two-Step Crosswords, was great.)
- The Mind-Challenge Puzzle Book by Cox/Rathvon et al. - don't know exactly what's reprinted in here... I know there are non-crossword puzzles, but hopefully new-to-me crosswords too.
And, most excitingly:
- Games Magazine Variety Crossword Puzzles, Volume 1 - from the '80s and '90s, but new to me! The seller I bought it from discovered they didn't actually have it, but fortunately I found another copy elsewhere.
Since I hadn't splurged in a while, I picked up a few more puzzle books from Amazon. Super Saver Shipping, dontcha know.
- Jonesin' for Crosswords by Matt Jones - I don't think I've solved any of these old Jonesin' puzzles.
- Cranium-Crushing Friday Crosswords (NY Sun) edited by Peter Gordon - I know I've solved most of these, but they're still good the second time around (and a year later)...
- 101 Cryptic Crosswords: From the New Yorker edited by Fraser Simpson - yes, it's time to learn cryptics! This is generally acknowledged as the best starter book. I also got Simpson's followup, which goes one better (102 Cryptic Crosswords).
- Will Shortz's X-Treme X-Words - alas, I got the ugly colorful cover instead of the badass black one. One of the few NYT books worth having despite overlapping with the online archives... good training for the A Division finals. :)
These used books haven't arrived yet:
- Random House UltraHard Crossword Omnibus, Volume 1 edited by Stanley Newman - bought it even though I own one of the five omnibus-ed books. It's 250 vintage Saturday Stumpers from the '90s. They're not as hard as today's, except for 15 bona fide ultra-hard stumpers (I haven't been able to finish the three I've tried).
- Random House $10,000 Trivia Challenge by Henry Hook - not sure what the meta-puzzle aspect is, but you can't go wrong with Hook. (Another meta Hook book, Two-Step Crosswords, was great.)
- The Mind-Challenge Puzzle Book by Cox/Rathvon et al. - don't know exactly what's reprinted in here... I know there are non-crossword puzzles, but hopefully new-to-me crosswords too.
And, most excitingly:
- Games Magazine Variety Crossword Puzzles, Volume 1 - from the '80s and '90s, but new to me! The seller I bought it from discovered they didn't actually have it, but fortunately I found another copy elsewhere.
Tuesday, 3/17/09
NYT 1:59 ... LAT 2:10 ... CS 2:03 ... BT 3:22 ... TO 2:20 ... TPP Spiral #2 8:45
Fixed the printer! Or rather, the software/drivers/whatever.
Fixed the printer! Or rather, the software/drivers/whatever.
Monday, 3/16/09
NYT 2:11 ... LAT 1:32 ... CS 2:34 ... JON 3:58 ... BEQ 3:12
Printer still broken, Dan still annoyed.
Printer still broken, Dan still annoyed.
Sunday, 3/15/09
NYT 6:29 ... LAT 4:48 ... BG 4:44 ... MR 4:16 ... CS 2:22 ... ND 3:55 ... Acrostic 10:21
The NYT would have been well under six minutes if I hadn't put in LASAGNA without checking the crossings. That made an entry of EEA, which would have been easier to spot if it weren't in the very bottom left. I was sure the problem was in the MIOCENE/AVIANCA region, neither of which I was sure of.
The NYT would have been well under six minutes if I hadn't put in LASAGNA without checking the crossings. That made an entry of EEA, which would have been easier to spot if it weren't in the very bottom left. I was sure the problem was in the MIOCENE/AVIANCA region, neither of which I was sure of.
Saturday, 3/14/09
NYT 8:04 ... LAT 2:48 ... CS 1:49 ... ND 7:15
I wanted to print the puzzles today, but my computer has stopped recognizing the USB connection to the printer. And I can't recreate the unplugging and replugging sequence that worked a couple days ago. Annoyed!
Barry Silk's NYT puzzle was slow to get going, but not abnormally difficult - I made it way harder on myself than necessary. The puzzle is definitely to blame for the incorrect spelling of LASERDISC... wonder what level of controversy that's causing on the blogs. I had trouble with FRESHENER, the [Toning skin lotion] - stuck in an L early on to give me FLESH-something, which obscured the crossing NIAGARA. I was rejected by the applet twice, first finding a simple typo, then finally discovering FRESHEVER crossing MAHARAVI, where the V should be an N. I should have figured out that the Indian royalty would involve RANI, but I was stuck in "unfamiliar brand name" mode for the stupid lotion.
Newsday Stumper took 2 minutes for the final, NW quadrant to fall. I stupidly put in TIA instead of TI-, probably because of the feminine noun "familia" in the clue. The other wrong guess obscuring things was AVAST for APORT as [Tar term]. I knew exactly where the "rash" clue was going, but couldn't come up with ALLERGISTS until I fixed the wrong entries.
I wanted to print the puzzles today, but my computer has stopped recognizing the USB connection to the printer. And I can't recreate the unplugging and replugging sequence that worked a couple days ago. Annoyed!
Barry Silk's NYT puzzle was slow to get going, but not abnormally difficult - I made it way harder on myself than necessary. The puzzle is definitely to blame for the incorrect spelling of LASERDISC... wonder what level of controversy that's causing on the blogs. I had trouble with FRESHENER, the [Toning skin lotion] - stuck in an L early on to give me FLESH-something, which obscured the crossing NIAGARA. I was rejected by the applet twice, first finding a simple typo, then finally discovering FRESHEVER crossing MAHARAVI, where the V should be an N. I should have figured out that the Indian royalty would involve RANI, but I was stuck in "unfamiliar brand name" mode for the stupid lotion.
Newsday Stumper took 2 minutes for the final, NW quadrant to fall. I stupidly put in TIA instead of TI-, probably because of the feminine noun "familia" in the clue. The other wrong guess obscuring things was AVAST for APORT as [Tar term]. I knew exactly where the "rash" clue was going, but couldn't come up with ALLERGISTS until I fixed the wrong entries.
Friday, 3/13/09
NYT 3:23 ... LAT 2:37 ... CS 1:47 ... CHE 2:20 ... WSJ 4:57 ... BEQ 2:48 ... MGWC 4:25
joon pahk, my friend, it was a pleasure blitzing through your NYT themeless debut! Did you learn AZOV and SHOR from crosswords? I wasn't going to solve until morning, but I hit the NYT puzzle page to read yesterday's Wordplay comments and saw Jim's headline: "the shiftless lad". So I couldn't wait! (Except long enough to warm up wtih the other puzzles first.)
morning addendum: more on Joon's puzzle. Over the last year, nobody's provided more feedback to constructors than Joon (save Rex, Orange, Nancy Solomon, and editors), so I feel like I should elaborate.
First entry EXERTED, suspected EXQUISITE but didn't type it until I confirmed with AQUINAS. Solved NW to SE (above the diagonal) to SW, and finished in the NE. Only guess I had to "erase" was something for HANK, probably LOCK. Didn't think the VESPUCCI/ASIAN x-ref really worked because the clue was too tortured. Would have loved a musical clue for PICKUPS, which probably would have been educational. PPPS is my least favorite entry, easily clued but rarely used in real life, I'd think. I concur with Joon that the short fill isn't optimal, but the longer fill is certainly fresh enough to make up for it. (Hmm, is SCAREDY a seven-letter partial? In a way? Even though it's a good entry?) Yeah, not bad for a first stab at a themeless.
Meanwhile, Dan Naddor provides yet another solid Friday LAT crossword. I know I'm not the only one wondering why he's never been published in the NYT. Dan, if you google yourself, email me!
joon pahk, my friend, it was a pleasure blitzing through your NYT themeless debut! Did you learn AZOV and SHOR from crosswords? I wasn't going to solve until morning, but I hit the NYT puzzle page to read yesterday's Wordplay comments and saw Jim's headline: "the shiftless lad". So I couldn't wait! (Except long enough to warm up wtih the other puzzles first.)
morning addendum: more on Joon's puzzle. Over the last year, nobody's provided more feedback to constructors than Joon (save Rex, Orange, Nancy Solomon, and editors), so I feel like I should elaborate.
First entry EXERTED, suspected EXQUISITE but didn't type it until I confirmed with AQUINAS. Solved NW to SE (above the diagonal) to SW, and finished in the NE. Only guess I had to "erase" was something for HANK, probably LOCK. Didn't think the VESPUCCI/ASIAN x-ref really worked because the clue was too tortured. Would have loved a musical clue for PICKUPS, which probably would have been educational. PPPS is my least favorite entry, easily clued but rarely used in real life, I'd think. I concur with Joon that the short fill isn't optimal, but the longer fill is certainly fresh enough to make up for it. (Hmm, is SCAREDY a seven-letter partial? In a way? Even though it's a good entry?) Yeah, not bad for a first stab at a themeless.
Meanwhile, Dan Naddor provides yet another solid Friday LAT crossword. I know I'm not the only one wondering why he's never been published in the NYT. Dan, if you google yourself, email me!
Thursday, 3/12/09
NYT (p) 3:50 ... LAT (p) 3:12 ... CS (p) 2:33
Fun rebus in the NYT. The grid doesn't hint at a rebus, but I discovered it pretty quickly, going from CELEB -> QBS -> QUIXOTE and filling the middle section first. Had to guess C or D for the MCCI/CRUSES cross. Checking my solution, I found I'd accidentally written a D instead of an N in square 50 - a careless error in a tournament setting, but I'm giving myself full credit.
Here are the answers to the ACPT/Hollywood trivia question. Like Amy always says, you gotta read Entertainment Weekly! (Not that these guys are likely to show up in many crosswords.)Director One and Director Two.
Fun rebus in the NYT. The grid doesn't hint at a rebus, but I discovered it pretty quickly, going from CELEB -> QBS -> QUIXOTE and filling the middle section first. Had to guess C or D for the MCCI/CRUSES cross. Checking my solution, I found I'd accidentally written a D instead of an N in square 50 - a careless error in a tournament setting, but I'm giving myself full credit.
Here are the answers to the ACPT/Hollywood trivia question. Like Amy always says, you gotta read Entertainment Weekly! (Not that these guys are likely to show up in many crosswords.)Director One and Director Two.
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