NYT 1:50 ... LAT 1:37 ... CS 2:12 ... ND 1:17 ... BT 2:44 ... TO 2:05
Couple of big clue bloopers in the Onion puzzle... (Didn't notice Newsday's 1A/1D until Joon's comment elsewhere...)
Sunday, 8/29/10
NYT 5:15 ... LAT 4:35 ... MR 5:21 ... BG 5:03 ... ND 3:11 ... KFS 3:52 ... CS 2:23 ... WP 4:29 ... Acrostic 7:50
Thanks to the new version of CrosswordButler (currently in beta release), I'm pleased to welcome Frank Longo's Sunday King Features Syndicate Premier puzzle to my solving lineup!
Thanks to the new version of CrosswordButler (currently in beta release), I'm pleased to welcome Frank Longo's Sunday King Features Syndicate Premier puzzle to my solving lineup!
Saturday, 8/28/10
NYT 4:02 ... LAT 2:50 ... CS 1:34 ... ND 4:42 ... Hex Cryptic (p) 17:45 ... BEW 5:02
I got Brad's new blog puzzle in Across Lite. How psyched are we that he's doing Saturday Stumpers now?
I got Brad's new blog puzzle in Across Lite. How psyched are we that he's doing Saturday Stumpers now?
Speed-Solving Videos
Here are the two videos from today...
(Click 'em to view in a larger size so you can see what's going on...)
NY Times:
LA Times:
I did open the files to sneak a peek at the author before solving, but I promise I didn't see any of the clues beforehand! I think that's enough showing off, so I don't plan to make any more videos. But if any constructors would like to "see" me solve their puzzles when they come out, contact me and I'll make a recording.
(Click 'em to view in a larger size so you can see what's going on...)
NY Times:
LA Times:
I did open the files to sneak a peek at the author before solving, but I promise I didn't see any of the clues beforehand! I think that's enough showing off, so I don't plan to make any more videos. But if any constructors would like to "see" me solve their puzzles when they come out, contact me and I'll make a recording.
Monday, 8/23/10
NYT 1:24 ... LAT 1:14 ... CS 1:29 ... ND 1:15 ... JON 1:47 ... BEQ 4:53
I recorded my solves today -- will upload a couple to YouTube. The LAT and ND both could have been at 1:10 if not for a few stray errors and typos...
Also, I updated the sidebar with sources of variety cryptics. Gonna print out a whole slew of them for when I go out of town next month!
I recorded my solves today -- will upload a couple to YouTube. The LAT and ND both could have been at 1:10 if not for a few stray errors and typos...
Also, I updated the sidebar with sources of variety cryptics. Gonna print out a whole slew of them for when I go out of town next month!
Sunday, 8/22/10
NYT 5:07 ... LAT 4:08 ... MR 4:13 ... BG 4:15 ... ND 3:30 ... LATB 4:50 ... CS 2:19 ... WP 4:06 ... Three on a Match tba
Wednesday, 8/18/10
NYT 2:07 ... LAT 1:33 ... CS 1:36 ... ND 1:29
Well, I saw Alex's name on the NYT and decided to record it. Let me know if you want to see it (no editorial comments on the mic this time)...
Well, I saw Alex's name on the NYT and decided to record it. Let me know if you want to see it (no editorial comments on the mic this time)...
Tuesday, 8/17/10
NYT 2:17 ... LAT 1:40 ... CS 1:41 ... ND 1:31 ... BT 2:27 ... TO 2:50
Behold, the not-at-all-anticipated follow-up to "Dan Can Type Fast". I thought Rex would enjoy it, since he asked for readers' solved copies of his debut. Hoped for a smoother ride, but whaddaya gonna do. I'll try to capture a 70-second Newsday solve sometime. Or maybe I should take requests?
Behold, the not-at-all-anticipated follow-up to "Dan Can Type Fast". I thought Rex would enjoy it, since he asked for readers' solved copies of his debut. Hoped for a smoother ride, but whaddaya gonna do. I'll try to capture a 70-second Newsday solve sometime. Or maybe I should take requests?
Sunday, 8/15/10
NYT 6:03* ... LAT 4:40 ... MR 3:53 ... BG 3:49 ... ND 3:22 ... CS 3:32 ... WP 3:33 ... Acrostic 8:19
I'll get to solving tonight, but I did update my Lollapuzzoola post below.
Had Across Lite show my error in the NYT (5-Down crossing the theme). I was so stunned by the quality of the fill that I didn't have the heart to look very long.
I'll get to solving tonight, but I did update my Lollapuzzoola post below.
Had Across Lite show my error in the NYT (5-Down crossing the theme). I was so stunned by the quality of the fill that I didn't have the heart to look very long.
Lollapuzzoola 3: The Great Pickle Giveaway
[This post was written before the tournament...]
[And updated afterwards...]
[SPOILERS FOR THE TOURNAMENT PUZZLES!]
Congratulations to the champions!Whoever they may be! Jeffrey Harris and Jeffrey Dubner! And hooray for Jeffrey Schwartz and Jeffrey Krasnick, just because! All four Jeffs (but especially the first two) will be very competitive at the ACPT. In fact, can we say Mr. Harris is a strong favorite to beat me? I'll say it.
I was unable to defend my Lollapuzzoola crown due to work commitments, but I did get to test-solve the puzzles last week. Here are my solving times, if you'd like to compare notes:
Puzzle 1: "Ryan Says..." by Deb Amlen -- 2:37
The theme clues were written out on the test version, so I imagine it would have been a bit slower under tournament conditions.
[Actually, the tournament copy had the same clues, plus hints provided before the puzzle started, so I was at a tiny disadvantage.]
Puzzle 2: "Mixed Doubles" by Mike Nothnagel -- 13:00 plus :30 for bonus answer
I didn't read the instructions carefully enough, and didn't realize until halfway through that the pairs were either both Across or both Down. So I wasted some time searching for matches where they couldn't be found.
[At the event, the instructions were carefully explained before solving began, so I was at a bigger disadvantage, since I started the clock before reading the clues.]
Puzzle 3: "Saturday Morning Cartoons" by Joe Krozel -- 7:08
Barely used the cartoons at all, because they weren't much help in parsing the theme answers. Left all the unchecked squares blank until I got enough circled letters to figure out the theme, which obviously helped a great deal.
Puzzle 4: "Lucky Sevens" by Tyler Hinman -- 10:31
Amazing puzzle all around. Who thought it was even possible to put together a grid with 64 seven-letter answers and nothing else? It took me longer than it should have to see what was going on, but once I did, I didn't really get hung up anywhere.
Puzzle 5: "To Prevent Data Loss" by Neville Fogarty -- 10:58
Cool theme, and impressive in its density.
[Neville told me they discovered an ambiguous square when solvers came up with a possibly-correct crossing: ARGS or ARRS could be [Pirates' interjections], and STR or STG could be the [Section with vlns.]. I didn't catch that because STR is more standard, and ARR(R) is a R&B inside joke...]
Final (Express Division) by Doug Peterson -- DNF! I had a really rough time all the way through, not just with the unknowns TIRPITZ and HABAKKUK. At the 15-minute time limit, I had everything except an empty SE corner, with a couple of wrong guesses (OREM crossing FRETS). So after a few more minutes banging my pencil against the wall, I cheated by looking at a couple of the Local Division clues and finished it up.
So I'm glad that I wasn't competing, because I might have tanked up at the whiteboard! I was also happy to bow out so that other top solvers would get a shot at the finals -- not that I was guaranteed to be there, but, you know, odds were good. Let's once again commend Howard Barkin, who didn't have an excuse to sit out except that he's ultranice.
Well, only one of the finalists was able to finish, and it sure helped that he got HABAKKUK off the H. But Jon and Joon both ran into a brick wall in the same place I did. I think I ended up with a few more correct squares than they had, so... might have been second place?
I had a great time seeing all the cool cruciverbalists, though I didn't have as much social time because I didn't get to chat in the hallway after solving (I was on Deb Amlen's grid-collecting team), and I had to leave for three hours in the middle of the day. That aside, it was an extremely fun and successful event, and I was correct in saying last year that they were going to need a bigger room -- the solvers barely fit! Congratulations to Ryan and Brian, and thanks to everyone who made it happen and came to play.
[And updated afterwards...]
[SPOILERS FOR THE TOURNAMENT PUZZLES!]
Congratulations to the champions!
I was unable to defend my Lollapuzzoola crown due to work commitments, but I did get to test-solve the puzzles last week. Here are my solving times, if you'd like to compare notes:
Puzzle 1: "Ryan Says..." by Deb Amlen -- 2:37
The theme clues were written out on the test version, so I imagine it would have been a bit slower under tournament conditions.
[Actually, the tournament copy had the same clues, plus hints provided before the puzzle started, so I was at a tiny disadvantage.]
Puzzle 2: "Mixed Doubles" by Mike Nothnagel -- 13:00 plus :30 for bonus answer
I didn't read the instructions carefully enough, and didn't realize until halfway through that the pairs were either both Across or both Down. So I wasted some time searching for matches where they couldn't be found.
[At the event, the instructions were carefully explained before solving began, so I was at a bigger disadvantage, since I started the clock before reading the clues.]
Puzzle 3: "Saturday Morning Cartoons" by Joe Krozel -- 7:08
Barely used the cartoons at all, because they weren't much help in parsing the theme answers. Left all the unchecked squares blank until I got enough circled letters to figure out the theme, which obviously helped a great deal.
Puzzle 4: "Lucky Sevens" by Tyler Hinman -- 10:31
Amazing puzzle all around. Who thought it was even possible to put together a grid with 64 seven-letter answers and nothing else? It took me longer than it should have to see what was going on, but once I did, I didn't really get hung up anywhere.
Puzzle 5: "To Prevent Data Loss" by Neville Fogarty -- 10:58
Cool theme, and impressive in its density.
[Neville told me they discovered an ambiguous square when solvers came up with a possibly-correct crossing: ARGS or ARRS could be [Pirates' interjections], and STR or STG could be the [Section with vlns.]. I didn't catch that because STR is more standard, and ARR(R) is a R&B inside joke...]
Final (Express Division) by Doug Peterson -- DNF! I had a really rough time all the way through, not just with the unknowns TIRPITZ and HABAKKUK. At the 15-minute time limit, I had everything except an empty SE corner, with a couple of wrong guesses (OREM crossing FRETS). So after a few more minutes banging my pencil against the wall, I cheated by looking at a couple of the Local Division clues and finished it up.
So I'm glad that I wasn't competing, because I might have tanked up at the whiteboard! I was also happy to bow out so that other top solvers would get a shot at the finals -- not that I was guaranteed to be there, but, you know, odds were good. Let's once again commend Howard Barkin, who didn't have an excuse to sit out except that he's ultranice.
Well, only one of the finalists was able to finish, and it sure helped that he got HABAKKUK off the H. But Jon and Joon both ran into a brick wall in the same place I did. I think I ended up with a few more correct squares than they had, so... might have been second place?
I had a great time seeing all the cool cruciverbalists, though I didn't have as much social time because I didn't get to chat in the hallway after solving (I was on Deb Amlen's grid-collecting team), and I had to leave for three hours in the middle of the day. That aside, it was an extremely fun and successful event, and I was correct in saying last year that they were going to need a bigger room -- the solvers barely fit! Congratulations to Ryan and Brian, and thanks to everyone who made it happen and came to play.
Saturday, 8/14/10
NYT 5:15 ... LAT 2:27 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 3:27 ... Acrostic 4:50
Looking forward to Lollapuzzoola today! I have a post scheduled to go up at 6pm with my solving times on the puzzles (which I test-solved last week). Find out whether I would have won... (hint: not bloody likely)
Looking forward to Lollapuzzoola today! I have a post scheduled to go up at 6pm with my solving times on the puzzles (which I test-solved last week). Find out whether I would have won... (hint: not bloody likely)
Friday, 8/13/10
NYT 3:26 ... LAT 2:34 ... CS 1:42 ... ND 2:05 ... CHE 2:26 ... WSJ 5:10 ... MGWC 2:30
Thursday, 8/12/10
NYT 3:01 ... LAT 2:08 ... CS 1:46 ... ND 1:48 ... BEQ 2:31 ... FB 3:04
Could somebody forward me the Fireball e-mail? I didn't receive it this week. (Thank you Howard!)
...And Peter's email showed up ten minutes after Howard's. I blame my new smartphone.
Could somebody forward me the Fireball e-mail? I didn't receive it this week. (Thank you Howard!)
...And Peter's email showed up ten minutes after Howard's. I blame my new smartphone.
Sunday, 8/8/10
NYT 5:40 ... LAT 4:47 ... MR 4:25 ... BG 5:08 ... ND 4:05 ... LATB 4:28 ... CS 2:14 ... WP 2:55
Saturday, 8/7/10
NYT 4:12 ... LAT 2:47 ... CS 1:45 ... ND 3:49 ... FB 2:50 ... Shapeshifters (p) 8:40
Friday, 8/6/10
NYT 3:27 ... LAT 2:11 ... CS 1:35 ... ND 1:43 ... WSJ 4:00 ... MGWC 2:22
I'm going out of town for the weekend and won't be looking at any puzzles until Sunday night! Or more likely, Monday.
I'm going out of town for the weekend and won't be looking at any puzzles until Sunday night! Or more likely, Monday.
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