“Enough!”
by Myles Callum
edited by Mike Shenk
March 26, 2010
Full answers not yet available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page. So take all answers with g. of salt.
Theme: Phrases joined by the letters TMI and clued with Too Much Information.
FILET MIGNON {23A *Cut from the tenderloin – its name means “dainty cut”!}
SALT MINES {25A *Sources of halite – that's a type of evaporitic deposit!}
DETROIT MICHIGAN {35A *Midwest metropolis – it has a view of Canada to the south!} - The southwestern section of Ontario runs between Lakes Huron and Erie, passing south and west of the eastern edge of the lower Michigan peninsula – a toe of Canada under the thumb of the mitten, as it were. Windsor, the city at the tip and the southernmost area of Canada, connects to Detroit by the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Similarly, I am always surprised at how much of California is east of Reno, NV. I tend to think of the states as neatly-outlined, brightly-colored boxes rather than as accretions formed war, transportation, and/or commerce. Where did I come by such grid-like thinking? For the full story on state borders, see How the States Got Their Shapes by Mark Stein [Collins 2008], an historical trivia goldmine.
ROBERT MITCHUM {55A *“Night of the Hunter” star – his middle names are Charles Durman!}
I DONT MIND A BIT {76A *“Fine by me!” - that sounds like something Mr. Ed might say!}
CABINET MINISTER {98A *High-ranking official – Canada's Leona Aglukkaq is one!}
GRIST MILL {114A *Flour-making plant – the Greek geographer Strabo wrote about one!}
COCONUT MILK {116A *White liquid used in cooking – it's called gata in the Philippines!} - Part of Thai cooking.
TMI {71D Briefly, a feature of each starred clue, and a chunk of its answer}
It's a Small, Small Puzzle World: 4
Given 242 answers in this puzzle and ~2000 words during the week (2 puzzles [LAT & NYT] x 6 days x over-100 words per puzzle + 2 Sunday puzzles x over-200 wpp + large fudge factor), odds are something will repeat. I'm not talking about bizarre crosswordpuzzlese but simple English words or puns with similar sensibilities. There are a finite number of English words and an even smaller set that fit happily into a crossword. However, this week hits one of those weird statistical blips between the weekly WSJ puzzle and today's [Friday 3/26/10] LA Times:
OR SO {31A Estimator's phrase}WSJ &{14A End of an estimate}LAT
LOL {13D Online chuckle} WSJ & {60D Tester's tehee*} LAT
CELL {11A Pen holder} WSJ & FELON {47D Pen resident} LAT
ROSE {84D Got up} WSJ & AROSE {38A Lost a lap?} LAT
*I would have said teehee but Urban Dictionary says it's a cute girlish laugh.
News To Me: 3
ELIHU {19A Benefactor Yale} - long version of the crossword-familiar Eli.
ANIS {29D Tropical cuckoos}
ONE O(ld) CAT {93D Classic baseball variant} - “This is town-ball modified to suit the occasion when only three or four boys play the game.” What, girls can't play?
Admissions of Defeat: 0?
Guessed on OCTAL {6A Notation used for Unix permissions}/COGNOMEN {7D Handle} - lOGNOMEN? nOGNOMEN? During my daily weight-bearing-stave-off-osteoporosis walk, the random noise in my head offer up COG- as in cognate, cognition, etc. That makes OCT- which sounds sufficiently computeresque. BTW, I believe the usage is UNIX. WSJ style may dictate otherwise. Also guessed on TNN {33A It became Spike in 2003}/ANIS. Was it The Nashville Network? By Jove, it was. Knowing the answer is the best, but guessing right is a close second.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 356 days
Friday, March 26, 2010, to Friday, March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 20%.
Down from a baseline of 30%. Had trouble with Wed & Thurs NYT this week. Only a decent showing on this puzzle saves it from going lower. I thought lack of progress was frustrating. Now I'm backsliding!
Constructor's Corner: Myles Callum
bio, scroll down
“The hard part is coming up with a theme that will be fun or reasonably entertaining. For the Wall Street Journal, I sometimes comb through financial glossaries looking for terms to play off or construe literally, like "Back Pay," where you can come up with lively entries that have words at the end that are synonyms for money-e.g., SHAKE YOUR BOOTY, HIT A SOUR NOTE, LOVE ME TENDER, etc. And I like doing puzzles that have words or acronyms hidden inside, like the TMI in this one. But the fun part here was getting the idea to liven it up by also giving "too much information" in the clues.
“It´s always instructive to see how Mike Shenk changes your puzzle, both in clues and grid fill. My 1-Across was RATSO, which Mike changed to LOTTO. That didn't surprise me; even as I used it, I was afraid RATSO was too easy because the limited clues are giveaways.
“My original clue for FILET MIGNON was "Cut from the tenderloin. It´s also called the psoas major!" But Mike changed the TMI part to "-its name means `dainty cut´!" which I like a lot better; my version was too esoteric by half, even though it was definitely too much information. Mike also has strong feelings about words used in grid fill, and in most of my early puzzles there were a lot of changes. In my more recent puzzles there are fewer changes, so after 12 years I may be getting the hang of it.”
Thank you Mr. Callum.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Pontification
by Joon Pahk
edited by Mike Shenk
March 19, 2010
Full answers not yet available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page. So take all answers with the appropriate amount of salt. (I still haven't figured out how to amend a blog without reposting and changing the date – and if I'm going to have my act together sufficiently to post this early, I want it recorded!)
Theme: Papal names inserted into common phrases.
URBANE COMMERCE {23A Suave business dealings?}
ALL INCLEMENT {33A Totally stormy?}
KOSHER SALTPETER {52A Ingredient for making gunpowder during passover?}
SATURN BENEDICTION {71A Blessing from a Roman deity?}
PRODIGAL PAULSON {88A Former Treasury secretary who couldn't keep to a budget?}
SIMONLEON SAYS {104A Game in which money talks?}
MIRACLE GROPIUS {121A Wondrous Bauhaus School founder?}
A list of popes.
Full disclosure: Got the pontifical connection. Was less than impressed with the resulting theme answers. I expect better. Totally missed that it was an insertion theme until reading Mr. Pahk's discussion below. I'll take stupid for $200, Alex. In his blog about the 2010 ACPT, Tyler Hinman says, “Here's a little tip: If you have "I guess that sort of makes sense" crossing "I guess that's just a word I've never heard before," YOU'RE WRONG, DUMBASS.” My corollary, if two professional and way-smart cruciverbalists create what seems to be a flaccid puzzle, YWDA.
Nomination for Word of the Week: SANTA
There has to be a very special level of punsters' hell for someone who can clue this with {104D Pole star}. It's the sort of answer where you get the word and have a minute to think, Huh? before the sandbag of sense thumps you upside the pun bone. Also MOO {99D Lea low} - a low in the lea, not a clever term for low-lying meadow & DRESSER {130A Unmentionable place} - a place for unmentionables. Mr. Pahk would easily hold his own at a pun tournament in Callahan's Crosstime Saloon [Spider Robinson /Ace 1977, Tor 1999].
News to Me: 4
PI DAY {117A March 14, to math teachers} - It's got it's own web page. It must exist.
ACETAL {126A Volatile solvent}
ORNETTE {127A Jazz great Coleman}
NO MAS {108A Roberto Duran's uncle?} - Spanish for no more, i.e. crying uncle. Apparently Duran is known for saying that in a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard. Or maybe not.
Admissions of Defeat: ??
Results skewed this week. I got so excited about the new section that I read it before finishing the puzzle. Had been hung up on a 5x13 box in the bottom, left corner. Still, I never would have gotten HOMESLICE {82D Bro}. HOMEboy & HOMies wouldn't stretch and even I drew the line at HOMEdudes. With that & SIMOLEON SAYS (& the massive theme hint), I completed the rest with no ?s, although that doesn't guarantee no errors. Filed between the Aggg of last week and Almost of the week before.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 363 days
Friday, March 19, 2010, to Friday, March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 30% and falling.
Took a stab at the 2009 puzzles, available by mail. Flew through #1 – ARMS RACE by Byron Walden. Came to a screeching halt on #2 – ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF by Brendan Emmett Quigley. Am girding loins to look at #3.
Enough from me. Below I have started a new section, to which Mr. Pahk was generous enough to contribute.
Constructor's Corner: Joon Pahk
“Random thoughts about the puzzle's construction:
“i don't remember the origin of this puzzle. you might think that PIUS -> GROPIUS would have to be the seed entry, but i don't think that was actually the case. it might actually be one of those puzzles where the title asserted itself first, and then the theme fleshed itself out around it. the idea of doing an insertion theme where you don't insert the same letter or letters every time is, if not exactly new, at least rarely seen. so i wanted to try that, but of course you need to have the inserted bits fall into a narrowly-defined group; otherwise it's just unfair on the solver. anyway, i have a bit of a thing for catholic trivia, but it turns out there are only so many pope names that are famous as being pope names as well as usable in this kind of wordplay. JOHN PAUL is probably the most famous pope name among the current generation, but of course it's not really a part of any longer word or phrase. the same was very nearly true of PIUS; i'm certainly familiar with walter gropius, but i was a bit concerned that he wasn't quite famous enough for a theme answer. the only pope that had a lot of lively pun possibilities was LEO, perhaps in part because it's the shortest, and perhaps because it's the only one that could be slipped into the middle of a word instead of having to be tacked onto the beginning or end. some ideas that i left on the cutting room floor were LEONINE TAILS, HOWDY LEOPARD, OLEO PIONEERS, and the sneaky PILE ON CUSHIONS. i'm pretty happy with SIMOLEON SAYS as the best of the bunch, though, especially with the apt clue about "money talks." (while we're here, happy 60th birthday to my father-in-law, also named LEO.)
“i think the original version of this puzzle had 8 theme answers: the 7 popes in the final version plus JOHN. but JOHN wasn't doing very much other than just sitting there. i think the answer was CHICKEN LITTLE JOHN. and the fill wasn't very good. on the advice of brendan emmett quigley, i redid the puzzle with just the seven strongest theme answers, and to compensate for the relatively light theme, i tried to go for a low word count (136, not easy to do in a 21x puzzle), resulting in some wide-open spaces. there are a few more partial phrases (EYE ON, IS MY, SAID A, ARE UP, IN HER) and a few more "cheater" squares in the grid than i usually prefer, but overall i'm pleased with the fill. HOMESLICE is a new answer that i was very excited about, and the US HISTORY/THE NATION stack is pretty fun. i also kind of liked {They lean to the right}, ITALS, sitting on top of {Left-leaning weekly}, THE NATION, in the grid.”
Thank you Mr. Pahk
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
by Joon Pahk
edited by Mike Shenk
March 19, 2010
Full answers not yet available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page. So take all answers with the appropriate amount of salt. (I still haven't figured out how to amend a blog without reposting and changing the date – and if I'm going to have my act together sufficiently to post this early, I want it recorded!)
Theme: Papal names inserted into common phrases.
URBANE COMMERCE {23A Suave business dealings?}
ALL INCLEMENT {33A Totally stormy?}
KOSHER SALTPETER {52A Ingredient for making gunpowder during passover?}
SATURN BENEDICTION {71A Blessing from a Roman deity?}
PRODIGAL PAULSON {88A Former Treasury secretary who couldn't keep to a budget?}
SIMONLEON SAYS {104A Game in which money talks?}
MIRACLE GROPIUS {121A Wondrous Bauhaus School founder?}
A list of popes.
Full disclosure: Got the pontifical connection. Was less than impressed with the resulting theme answers. I expect better. Totally missed that it was an insertion theme until reading Mr. Pahk's discussion below. I'll take stupid for $200, Alex. In his blog about the 2010 ACPT, Tyler Hinman says, “Here's a little tip: If you have "I guess that sort of makes sense" crossing "I guess that's just a word I've never heard before," YOU'RE WRONG, DUMBASS.” My corollary, if two professional and way-smart cruciverbalists create what seems to be a flaccid puzzle, YWDA.
Nomination for Word of the Week: SANTA
There has to be a very special level of punsters' hell for someone who can clue this with {104D Pole star}. It's the sort of answer where you get the word and have a minute to think, Huh? before the sandbag of sense thumps you upside the pun bone. Also MOO {99D Lea low} - a low in the lea, not a clever term for low-lying meadow & DRESSER {130A Unmentionable place} - a place for unmentionables. Mr. Pahk would easily hold his own at a pun tournament in Callahan's Crosstime Saloon [Spider Robinson /Ace 1977, Tor 1999].
News to Me: 4
PI DAY {117A March 14, to math teachers} - It's got it's own web page. It must exist.
ACETAL {126A Volatile solvent}
ORNETTE {127A Jazz great Coleman}
NO MAS {108A Roberto Duran's uncle?} - Spanish for no more, i.e. crying uncle. Apparently Duran is known for saying that in a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard. Or maybe not.
Admissions of Defeat: ??
Results skewed this week. I got so excited about the new section that I read it before finishing the puzzle. Had been hung up on a 5x13 box in the bottom, left corner. Still, I never would have gotten HOMESLICE {82D Bro}. HOMEboy & HOMies wouldn't stretch and even I drew the line at HOMEdudes. With that & SIMOLEON SAYS (& the massive theme hint), I completed the rest with no ?s, although that doesn't guarantee no errors. Filed between the Aggg of last week and Almost of the week before.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 363 days
Friday, March 19, 2010, to Friday, March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 30% and falling.
Took a stab at the 2009 puzzles, available by mail. Flew through #1 – ARMS RACE by Byron Walden. Came to a screeching halt on #2 – ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF by Brendan Emmett Quigley. Am girding loins to look at #3.
Enough from me. Below I have started a new section, to which Mr. Pahk was generous enough to contribute.
Constructor's Corner: Joon Pahk
“Random thoughts about the puzzle's construction:
“i don't remember the origin of this puzzle. you might think that PIUS -> GROPIUS would have to be the seed entry, but i don't think that was actually the case. it might actually be one of those puzzles where the title asserted itself first, and then the theme fleshed itself out around it. the idea of doing an insertion theme where you don't insert the same letter or letters every time is, if not exactly new, at least rarely seen. so i wanted to try that, but of course you need to have the inserted bits fall into a narrowly-defined group; otherwise it's just unfair on the solver. anyway, i have a bit of a thing for catholic trivia, but it turns out there are only so many pope names that are famous as being pope names as well as usable in this kind of wordplay. JOHN PAUL is probably the most famous pope name among the current generation, but of course it's not really a part of any longer word or phrase. the same was very nearly true of PIUS; i'm certainly familiar with walter gropius, but i was a bit concerned that he wasn't quite famous enough for a theme answer. the only pope that had a lot of lively pun possibilities was LEO, perhaps in part because it's the shortest, and perhaps because it's the only one that could be slipped into the middle of a word instead of having to be tacked onto the beginning or end. some ideas that i left on the cutting room floor were LEONINE TAILS, HOWDY LEOPARD, OLEO PIONEERS, and the sneaky PILE ON CUSHIONS. i'm pretty happy with SIMOLEON SAYS as the best of the bunch, though, especially with the apt clue about "money talks." (while we're here, happy 60th birthday to my father-in-law, also named LEO.)
“i think the original version of this puzzle had 8 theme answers: the 7 popes in the final version plus JOHN. but JOHN wasn't doing very much other than just sitting there. i think the answer was CHICKEN LITTLE JOHN. and the fill wasn't very good. on the advice of brendan emmett quigley, i redid the puzzle with just the seven strongest theme answers, and to compensate for the relatively light theme, i tried to go for a low word count (136, not easy to do in a 21x puzzle), resulting in some wide-open spaces. there are a few more partial phrases (EYE ON, IS MY, SAID A, ARE UP, IN HER) and a few more "cheater" squares in the grid than i usually prefer, but overall i'm pleased with the fill. HOMESLICE is a new answer that i was very excited about, and the US HISTORY/THE NATION stack is pretty fun. i also kind of liked {They lean to the right}, ITALS, sitting on top of {Left-leaning weekly}, THE NATION, in the grid.”
Thank you Mr. Pahk
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Signs of the Times
by Randolph Ross
edited by Mike Shenk
March 12, 2010
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
Theme: Road signs starting common phrases
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER {22A Somehow}
SLOW MOTION REPLAY {30A Sports analyst's aid}
ENTER THE DRAGON {46A 1973 Bruce Lee classic}
STAY RIGHT THERE {82A “Don't move!”}
WRONG WAY CORRIGAN {98A Directionally challenged pilot of 1938}
STOP THE BLEEDING {111A Get a bad situation under control}
YIELD THE FLOOR {3D Let someone else speak}
EXIT INTERVIEW {54D Conversation after canning}
Nomination for Word of the Week: EGOISTS {64A I guys}
To my mind, egoist is a pompous way to say egotist, but the OED gives three definitions of the former, only one of which = the latter. Both talk about themselves, in addition, an -ist uses self as, “the guiding principle of his conduct.”
People of the Puzzle: EDISON {43D Holder of 1,093 patents}
1,093! A fact worth a pause for respect.
MOHS {74D Scale on which diamond is 10} – Is it immortality if society knows the name but only science knows the person? Poor Frederick doesn't even make Anonyponymous by John Bemelmans Marciano [Bloomsbury 2009].
Crosswordpuzzlese: DRE {11D Rap Dr.}
Got right off. So, either I'm getting cooler or doing too many crossword puzzles – which is likely to lead the other way. Geek Power!
News to Me: PAWLs {97D Ratchet parts}
The widget that moves the toothed wheel.
Admissions of Defeat: Nevermind.
Too many mystery Proper Noun crosses such as WILEY{25A Pilot Post}/ODAY{5D Jazz Singer Anita} (which I got) or LEON{51A First name in the CIA}/SENNETT{30D Mack, maker of madcap movies} (which I did not). ASHpit/ASHPAN? {39A Fireplace receptacle}. BAAaaaaaa{41A Sheepish response}. File in the Thank You for Playing category.
Commentary: The im/possibility of improvement?
When I first started doing puzzles regularly, I saw a jump in performance after 2-3 months. Since then I've been stuck. Good days/weeks; then bad. So, is it possible to move from a mid-level puzzler to an expert? Or does a certain type of intelligence lend itself to a certain level of puzzling and ya gotta dance with what ya brung? Gloom flowers strewn in my path this week.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 370 days
Friday March 12, 2010, to March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 30%.
Base level of interest: 10% NYC, 10% PuzzleFest, 10% interested traveling companion. 0% of 25% each for Friday NYT, Saturday NYT, & Fireball. Didn't even try this week. (re math: What can I say, it's not an exact science)
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
by Randolph Ross
edited by Mike Shenk
March 12, 2010
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
Theme: Road signs starting common phrases
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER {22A Somehow}
SLOW MOTION REPLAY {30A Sports analyst's aid}
ENTER THE DRAGON {46A 1973 Bruce Lee classic}
STAY RIGHT THERE {82A “Don't move!”}
WRONG WAY CORRIGAN {98A Directionally challenged pilot of 1938}
STOP THE BLEEDING {111A Get a bad situation under control}
YIELD THE FLOOR {3D Let someone else speak}
EXIT INTERVIEW {54D Conversation after canning}
Nomination for Word of the Week: EGOISTS {64A I guys}
To my mind, egoist is a pompous way to say egotist, but the OED gives three definitions of the former, only one of which = the latter. Both talk about themselves, in addition, an -ist uses self as, “the guiding principle of his conduct.”
People of the Puzzle: EDISON {43D Holder of 1,093 patents}
1,093! A fact worth a pause for respect.
MOHS {74D Scale on which diamond is 10} – Is it immortality if society knows the name but only science knows the person? Poor Frederick doesn't even make Anonyponymous by John Bemelmans Marciano [Bloomsbury 2009].
Crosswordpuzzlese: DRE {11D Rap Dr.}
Got right off. So, either I'm getting cooler or doing too many crossword puzzles – which is likely to lead the other way. Geek Power!
News to Me: PAWLs {97D Ratchet parts}
The widget that moves the toothed wheel.
Admissions of Defeat: Nevermind.
Too many mystery Proper Noun crosses such as WILEY{25A Pilot Post}/ODAY{5D Jazz Singer Anita} (which I got) or LEON{51A First name in the CIA}/SENNETT{30D Mack, maker of madcap movies} (which I did not). ASHpit/ASHPAN? {39A Fireplace receptacle}. BAAaaaaaa{41A Sheepish response}. File in the Thank You for Playing category.
Commentary: The im/possibility of improvement?
When I first started doing puzzles regularly, I saw a jump in performance after 2-3 months. Since then I've been stuck. Good days/weeks; then bad. So, is it possible to move from a mid-level puzzler to an expert? Or does a certain type of intelligence lend itself to a certain level of puzzling and ya gotta dance with what ya brung? Gloom flowers strewn in my path this week.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 370 days
Friday March 12, 2010, to March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 30%.
Base level of interest: 10% NYC, 10% PuzzleFest, 10% interested traveling companion. 0% of 25% each for Friday NYT, Saturday NYT, & Fireball. Didn't even try this week. (re math: What can I say, it's not an exact science)
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
And the Nominees Are...
by Pancho Harrison
edited by Mike Shenk
March 5, 2010
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
Theme: Best Actress (mostly) nominees (trivia from BA commentary - mostly)
BURSTYN OUT {23A Ellen's sign-off? (1971, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 2000)} – Ellen Burstyn (real-name Edna Rae Gillooly, and first appearing with screen name Ellen McRae), Best Actress winner for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).
BERRY AT SEA {25A Halle in a state of confusion? (2001)} – Won with her first nomination for Monster's Ball.
DUNNE DEAL {48A Irene's business transaction? (1931, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1948)} - No wins; two nominations were consecutive (from 1936-1937).
MOORE INFO {58A Contents of Julianne's bio? (1997, 1999, 2002)} - Often, actresses have been nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for different films in the same year. ..... A total of eleven performers .... have duplicated that feat. Julianne Moore (Best Actress for Far From Heaven (2002) and Best Supporting Actress for The Hours (2002)).
BATES TRAP {87A Mouse catcher for Kathy? (1990, 1998, 2002)} - It also helps .... for showing acting diversity (Kathy Bates as the horror villainess in Misery (1990).
CRUZ LINES {98A What Penelope has to memorize? (2006, 2008)} - Spanish actress Penelope Cruz was nominated as Best Actress for her role as single mother Raimunda in Volver (2006) - she became the first Spanish woman to be nominated for a best actress Academy Award for a non-English speaking role.
DERN TOOTIN {123A Laura on her horn? (1991)}
THER ON ROOM {126A Charlize's bedchamber? (2003, 2005)} - The first acting Oscar winner from South Africa was Charlize Theron as Best Actress for Monster (2003). In the same year, Theron and Djimon Hounsou were the first African-born performers to be nominated for an Oscar. ...Theron won the Best Actress Oscar as a serial-killer prostitute.
BASSETT HOUND {34A Angela's dog? (1993)} - Gratuitous plug for Thursday Night Bassett Blogging & Sunday Night Puppy Blogging
WATTS COOKING {39A Dishes from Naomi's kitchen? (2003)}
WORD SIBLINGS: _ORE
My last square was the M of MORE {3D Added}/ERMA {1A Aretha's gospel singing sister}. Since my total lack of cool &/or musical knowledge prevented me from checking the cross, I ran thru the possibles for _ORE. I got 11: BORE, CORE, FORE, GORE, LORE, MORE, PORE, SORE, TORE, WORE, YORE. The Million Word Crossword Answer Book by Stanley Newman and Daniel Stark [2007 Collins 2008] added two more [p33]: DORE {French painter} [p1196] & VORE {Eater: Comb. form} [p1265 ].
It's a Small, Small Puzzle World: ERMA
Appeared again in the Sunday NYT [3/7/10] {57A Franklin who sang “Piece of my Heart.”}. Sister Aretha may get the press, but Erma gets the crossword puzzles.
Admissions of Defeat: 1
Phooey, phooey, phooey. I was so proud of myself for catching a mistake that would have ruined a perfect round. In pondering possible pithy comments, I would explain the mysterious PLe. I figured {65A Abba's group} was the Swedish congress, the Swedish music national academy, or whatever. Hmmm. Dunno who Abba is, but PLO works and CROAK makes more sense than CReAK as {54D Swamp sound}. Yippee. Although I got done early, I waited for the answers to be up before claiming my smashing victory. Darn. The San Francisco airport {51A N. Cal. Hub} is SFO not SFa and ADOPT works as well as ADaPT {36D Start using}.
Went down in a – for me – quick hour & ½ during a bout of insomnia Thursday night. Maybe I should get up in the middle of the night more often – despite the vowel confusion.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 378 days
I'm having trouble find a link or on-screen clock that is accepted and allows me to edit. So, for now the hand-cranked version. From Friday March 5, 2010, to March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 80% for the moment. Found a friend who said she'd go if I would. I'll settle down to a more realistic number soon but a compatriot is good for at least a 10% overall gain.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
by Pancho Harrison
edited by Mike Shenk
March 5, 2010
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
Theme: Best Actress (mostly) nominees (trivia from BA commentary - mostly)
BURSTYN OUT {23A Ellen's sign-off? (1971, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 2000)} – Ellen Burstyn (real-name Edna Rae Gillooly, and first appearing with screen name Ellen McRae), Best Actress winner for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).
BERRY AT SEA {25A Halle in a state of confusion? (2001)} – Won with her first nomination for Monster's Ball.
DUNNE DEAL {48A Irene's business transaction? (1931, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1948)} - No wins; two nominations were consecutive (from 1936-1937).
MOORE INFO {58A Contents of Julianne's bio? (1997, 1999, 2002)} - Often, actresses have been nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for different films in the same year. ..... A total of eleven performers .... have duplicated that feat. Julianne Moore (Best Actress for Far From Heaven (2002) and Best Supporting Actress for The Hours (2002)).
BATES TRAP {87A Mouse catcher for Kathy? (1990, 1998, 2002)} - It also helps .... for showing acting diversity (Kathy Bates as the horror villainess in Misery (1990).
CRUZ LINES {98A What Penelope has to memorize? (2006, 2008)} - Spanish actress Penelope Cruz was nominated as Best Actress for her role as single mother Raimunda in Volver (2006) - she became the first Spanish woman to be nominated for a best actress Academy Award for a non-English speaking role.
DERN TOOTIN {123A Laura on her horn? (1991)}
THER ON ROOM {126A Charlize's bedchamber? (2003, 2005)} - The first acting Oscar winner from South Africa was Charlize Theron as Best Actress for Monster (2003). In the same year, Theron and Djimon Hounsou were the first African-born performers to be nominated for an Oscar. ...Theron won the Best Actress Oscar as a serial-killer prostitute.
BASSETT HOUND {34A Angela's dog? (1993)} - Gratuitous plug for Thursday Night Bassett Blogging & Sunday Night Puppy Blogging
WATTS COOKING {39A Dishes from Naomi's kitchen? (2003)}
WORD SIBLINGS: _ORE
My last square was the M of MORE {3D Added}/ERMA {1A Aretha's gospel singing sister}. Since my total lack of cool &/or musical knowledge prevented me from checking the cross, I ran thru the possibles for _ORE. I got 11: BORE, CORE, FORE, GORE, LORE, MORE, PORE, SORE, TORE, WORE, YORE. The Million Word Crossword Answer Book by Stanley Newman and Daniel Stark [2007 Collins 2008] added two more [p33]: DORE {French painter} [p1196] & VORE {Eater: Comb. form} [p1265 ].
It's a Small, Small Puzzle World: ERMA
Appeared again in the Sunday NYT [3/7/10] {57A Franklin who sang “Piece of my Heart.”}. Sister Aretha may get the press, but Erma gets the crossword puzzles.
Admissions of Defeat: 1
Phooey, phooey, phooey. I was so proud of myself for catching a mistake that would have ruined a perfect round. In pondering possible pithy comments, I would explain the mysterious PLe. I figured {65A Abba's group} was the Swedish congress, the Swedish music national academy, or whatever. Hmmm. Dunno who Abba is, but PLO works and CROAK makes more sense than CReAK as {54D Swamp sound}. Yippee. Although I got done early, I waited for the answers to be up before claiming my smashing victory. Darn. The San Francisco airport {51A N. Cal. Hub} is SFO not SFa and ADOPT works as well as ADaPT {36D Start using}.
Went down in a – for me – quick hour & ½ during a bout of insomnia Thursday night. Maybe I should get up in the middle of the night more often – despite the vowel confusion.
ACPT Countdown Clock: 378 days
I'm having trouble find a link or on-screen clock that is accepted and allows me to edit. So, for now the hand-cranked version. From Friday March 5, 2010, to March 18, 2011.
Likelihood of my attendance at the ACPT: 80% for the moment. Found a friend who said she'd go if I would. I'll settle down to a more realistic number soon but a compatriot is good for at least a 10% overall gain.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Table Talk
by Harvey Estes
edited by Mike Shenk
February 26, 2010
http://www.puzzability.com/whois.html
Full answers not yet available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page. So take all answers with a g. of s.
Theme: “PAT” removed from the top set of answers and added to the bottom set.
(PAT)TERN BALDNESS {23A Avian alopecia?}
(PAT)RIOT MISSILE {33A Object thrown at a demonstration?}
(PAT)RON OF THE ARTS {47A Howard as a museum supporter?}
PALPATE FACES {81A Check mugs for lumps?}
PATINA SENSE {92A Asset for bronze cleaners?}
PITAPAT BREAD {109A Money that makes the heart beat faster?}
PASS THE BUTTER {63A Table request, and this puzzle's theme}
PAT {110D Apply 63-Across to this word in three pairs of answers}
Ringing changes on the add-a-word/drop-a-word themes. Reminiscent of “Come Together” on October 9, 2009, by Mr. Estes, where he dropped various letters from song titles to form new titles. The dropped letters came together for LENNON. Mr. Estes doesn't just drop letters. He likes to play with them after.
Admissions of Defeat: 1?
No Googling, confidence in most of the answers. However, there always seems to be one box that devolves into guesswork. I guessed correctly on Tokyo for TSE {38A Japan's Big Board} and I like the rest of the acrosses but that leaves TROLL for {38D Sing in a carefree way}. Huh? Resolution pending appearance of the answers and my discovering how to update a post without reposting.
Commentary: Short post.
Overwhelmed with work in civilian life. You wouldn't think a once-a-week blog would be hard to fit in but it be. I've said it before. I can not imagine how folks puzzle & post everyday. Perhaps it would be easier if I could time my puzzle solving with a clock rather than a calendar.
ACPT countdown: (Extrapolating from 2010 dates.)
Chances of my going: 40%
A surge of hope arising from a surprise showing on Friday's NYT. Fireball, Saturday, etc. still hopeless.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
by Harvey Estes
edited by Mike Shenk
February 26, 2010
http://www.puzzability.com/whois.html
Full answers not yet available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page. So take all answers with a g. of s.
Theme: “PAT” removed from the top set of answers and added to the bottom set.
(PAT)TERN BALDNESS {23A Avian alopecia?}
(PAT)RIOT MISSILE {33A Object thrown at a demonstration?}
(PAT)RON OF THE ARTS {47A Howard as a museum supporter?}
PALPATE FACES {81A Check mugs for lumps?}
PATINA SENSE {92A Asset for bronze cleaners?}
PITAPAT BREAD {109A Money that makes the heart beat faster?}
PASS THE BUTTER {63A Table request, and this puzzle's theme}
PAT {110D Apply 63-Across to this word in three pairs of answers}
Ringing changes on the add-a-word/drop-a-word themes. Reminiscent of “Come Together” on October 9, 2009, by Mr. Estes, where he dropped various letters from song titles to form new titles. The dropped letters came together for LENNON. Mr. Estes doesn't just drop letters. He likes to play with them after.
Admissions of Defeat: 1?
No Googling, confidence in most of the answers. However, there always seems to be one box that devolves into guesswork. I guessed correctly on Tokyo for TSE {38A Japan's Big Board} and I like the rest of the acrosses but that leaves TROLL for {38D Sing in a carefree way}. Huh? Resolution pending appearance of the answers and my discovering how to update a post without reposting.
Commentary: Short post.
Overwhelmed with work in civilian life. You wouldn't think a once-a-week blog would be hard to fit in but it be. I've said it before. I can not imagine how folks puzzle & post everyday. Perhaps it would be easier if I could time my puzzle solving with a clock rather than a calendar.
ACPT countdown: (Extrapolating from 2010 dates.)
Chances of my going: 40%
A surge of hope arising from a surprise showing on Friday's NYT. Fireball, Saturday, etc. still hopeless.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I’m A Mac
By Janet Bender
Edited by Mike Shenk
February 19, 2010
http://www.puzzability.com/whois.html
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
THEME: Words ending in –MA joined with words starting with C-.
The two words ending in –MA are from Latin. The five place names come from languages indigenous to that area when the dictionary writers showed up.
PIMA COTTON {25A Underwear fabric}- Named after Pima County AZ where it was first grown. [OED] The county was named after a local tribe.
SUMMA CUM LAUDE {27A Valedictorian’s honor} – From Latin for highest. [OED]
OKLAHOMA CRUDE {47A 1973 George C. Scott film} – From Choctaw meaning red people.
DRAMA CRITICS {54A Some opening night attendees} – Via Latin from Greek, “deed, action, play, esp. tragedy.” [OED]
SONOMA COUNTY {79A Home to more then 250 wineries} – Chocuyen Indian name translated by some as "Valley of the Moon" and by others as "land or tribe of the Chief Nose." Wiki says Coast Miwok and the Pomo tribe plus VotM.
REDEEM A COUPON {85A Save 50c, say}
OBAMA CAMPAIGN {105A “The Audacity to Win” subject} – African/Kenyan Luo language, “Luo verb that means "to be slightly bent" or "to be twisted". Though no one knows for sure why his [BHO's] great-grandfather was given the name, experts on Luo language and culture think the most likely possibilities are that the baby either had a leg or arm that looked a little bent just after he was born, or that he was born in the breech position.” [Wiki ans]
PANAMA CITY {108A Museo del Canal Interoceanico setting} – Guarani word meaning a "butterfly,"
A cousin to "I'm a PC" by Myles Callum on November 6, 2009. Praise songs and accolades of the highest honor to the first constructor who creates I’m A Linux.
How many –MA words did Ms. Bender have to chose from? 166 according to the The Million Word Crossword Answer Book by Stanley Newman and Daniel Stark [2007 Collins 2008 pb], superior to the OED as a crossword-specific dictionary since it includes abbreviations, partial words, multiple words, popular culture, and proper names both geographic and personal.
Nine 3 letter words for _ MA (p4), including OMA {Medical suffix (p1237)}.
Forty-four 4 letter words for _ _ MA (p28), including CYMA {Cornice molding (p1193)}.
Forty-seven 5 letter words for _ _ _ MA (p108), including NAIMA {John Coltrane ballad (p1232)}.
Forty-Three 6 letter words for _ _ _ _ MA (p328), including LOOK MA.
Twenty-Three 7 letter words for _ _ _ _ _ MA (p841), including ATACAMA, the desert driven across in Road Fever: A High-Speed Travelogue [Random 1991]. Author Tim Cahill says that trees from the foothills can be uprooted by spring runoff, brought down into the salt pan, and then covered with wind-blown grit and sand, “The Atacama is the only place on earth where people mine wood.” (p163)
Admissions of Defeat: 3
I made a few errors, notably pulling an Al Saunders and leaving 2 squares blank. I’m irate with myself. Imagine if the ACPT had been on the line? Back in 1996, I volunteered at the Atlanta Olympics. We watched a Canadian competitor ride right past a jump to eliminate herself. It must be kinda like that.
On the plus side, I’m giving myself points for letting the word ‘protein’ tip the R(d)NA {78A Protein synthesis participant} guesswork scales in the right direction.
Commentary: ACPT
Thought about them all weekend. Wished I was there. So, I am making a public announcement that I will go in 2011.
IF
I can make headway on the Friday/Saturday NYT puzzles. I assume that basic competence at this level is a requirement to survive the championship. I’m currently a solid Wed/Thur/WSJ solver with a minimum of errors. Right now the only thing I can do with Fri/Sat printouts is use them for coasters. I’m not asking for 100% correct, just greater than 50% filled in. Whenever I thought about competing this year, I had an image of myself sitting in front of a sheet of paper with nothing to do for 45 minutes but draw smiley faces in the boxes.
See you in 2011. I hope.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
By Janet Bender
Edited by Mike Shenk
February 19, 2010
http://www.puzzability.com/whois.html
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
THEME: Words ending in –MA joined with words starting with C-.
The two words ending in –MA are from Latin. The five place names come from languages indigenous to that area when the dictionary writers showed up.
PIMA COTTON {25A Underwear fabric}- Named after Pima County AZ where it was first grown. [OED] The county was named after a local tribe.
SUMMA CUM LAUDE {27A Valedictorian’s honor} – From Latin for highest. [OED]
OKLAHOMA CRUDE {47A 1973 George C. Scott film} – From Choctaw meaning red people.
DRAMA CRITICS {54A Some opening night attendees} – Via Latin from Greek, “deed, action, play, esp. tragedy.” [OED]
SONOMA COUNTY {79A Home to more then 250 wineries} – Chocuyen Indian name translated by some as "Valley of the Moon" and by others as "land or tribe of the Chief Nose." Wiki says Coast Miwok and the Pomo tribe plus VotM.
REDEEM A COUPON {85A Save 50c, say}
OBAMA CAMPAIGN {105A “The Audacity to Win” subject} – African/Kenyan Luo language, “Luo verb that means "to be slightly bent" or "to be twisted". Though no one knows for sure why his [BHO's] great-grandfather was given the name, experts on Luo language and culture think the most likely possibilities are that the baby either had a leg or arm that looked a little bent just after he was born, or that he was born in the breech position.” [Wiki ans]
PANAMA CITY {108A Museo del Canal Interoceanico setting} – Guarani word meaning a "butterfly,"
A cousin to "I'm a PC" by Myles Callum on November 6, 2009. Praise songs and accolades of the highest honor to the first constructor who creates I’m A Linux.
How many –MA words did Ms. Bender have to chose from? 166 according to the The Million Word Crossword Answer Book by Stanley Newman and Daniel Stark [2007 Collins 2008 pb], superior to the OED as a crossword-specific dictionary since it includes abbreviations, partial words, multiple words, popular culture, and proper names both geographic and personal.
Nine 3 letter words for _ MA (p4), including OMA {Medical suffix (p1237)}.
Forty-four 4 letter words for _ _ MA (p28), including CYMA {Cornice molding (p1193)}.
Forty-seven 5 letter words for _ _ _ MA (p108), including NAIMA {John Coltrane ballad (p1232)}.
Forty-Three 6 letter words for _ _ _ _ MA (p328), including LOOK MA.
Twenty-Three 7 letter words for _ _ _ _ _ MA (p841), including ATACAMA, the desert driven across in Road Fever: A High-Speed Travelogue [Random 1991]. Author Tim Cahill says that trees from the foothills can be uprooted by spring runoff, brought down into the salt pan, and then covered with wind-blown grit and sand, “The Atacama is the only place on earth where people mine wood.” (p163)
Admissions of Defeat: 3
I made a few errors, notably pulling an Al Saunders and leaving 2 squares blank. I’m irate with myself. Imagine if the ACPT had been on the line? Back in 1996, I volunteered at the Atlanta Olympics. We watched a Canadian competitor ride right past a jump to eliminate herself. It must be kinda like that.
On the plus side, I’m giving myself points for letting the word ‘protein’ tip the R(d)NA {78A Protein synthesis participant} guesswork scales in the right direction.
Commentary: ACPT
Thought about them all weekend. Wished I was there. So, I am making a public announcement that I will go in 2011.
IF
I can make headway on the Friday/Saturday NYT puzzles. I assume that basic competence at this level is a requirement to survive the championship. I’m currently a solid Wed/Thur/WSJ solver with a minimum of errors. Right now the only thing I can do with Fri/Sat printouts is use them for coasters. I’m not asking for 100% correct, just greater than 50% filled in. Whenever I thought about competing this year, I had an image of myself sitting in front of a sheet of paper with nothing to do for 45 minutes but draw smiley faces in the boxes.
See you in 2011. I hope.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Washington Square
by Elizabeth C. Gorski
edited by Mike Shenk
February 12, 2010
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
Theme: A border of presidential names with nonpresidential clues.
HOOVER {1A Big name in carpet cleaning}
CLINTON {7A “Atomic Dog” singer George}
REAGAN {14A Frank who led the NFL in interceptions in 1947}
ARTHUR {130A He worked knights}
KENNEDY {131A “Ironweed” author William}
MONROE {132A DiMaggio's love}
HARRISON {1D “Here Comes the Sun” writer}
NIXON {19D Co-star of Parker, Cattrall and Davis}
PIERCE {52D Puncture}
TAYLOR {63D Grammy winner Swift}
COOLIDGE {92D “All Time High” singer Rita}
OBAMA {105D Port north of Kyoto}
PRESIDENTS BOX {72A Theater VIP section, as suggested by the answers on this puzzle's edges}
Although not suggested by the answer clue, five other names appear. I imagine Ms. Gorski had five more clues she didn't want to waste.
BUSH {33A Wild parts of Australia}
LINCOLN {42A Car introduced in 1920}
MADISON {99A Avenue east of Fifth}
FORD {111A Cross, in a way}
JEFFERSON {48D Blues legend Blind Lemon}
These were so symmetric, I wanted the inner names to form a second pattern, or perhaps a secret message along with the black boxes, but that would have been gilding the lily.
The clues came from a range of human activity.
Commerce: HOOVER, LINCOLN
Music: CLINTON, HARRISON, TAYLOR, COOLIDGE, JEFFERSON
Sports: REAGAN
Myth: ARTHUR
Literature: KENNEDY
Film & TV: MONROE, NIXON
Misc verbs: PIERCE, FORD
Geography: OBAMA, BUSH, MADISON
Ten of the 17 clues were proper names.
This should have been easy. Seventeen names from a finite list of 43* names which any American should know by heart. I didn't. Furthermore, I spent waay too long being confused by a president's whose name ends in an A?? Seriously. Being inclined to think historically is no excuse.
*Obama is our 44th president but Grover Cleveland split terms so counts as 22nd and 24th. Therefore 43 men have been 44 presidents.
Off topic: Other presidential trivia. My source for the above was a Presidents of the United States of America laminated placemat that doubles as my desk blotter. According to this infallible source, 4 presidents had full beards; 3 had mustaches; and 3 had an assortment of other face fuzz. Taft's mustache in 1913 was the last facial hair in the White House. Since Kennedy, 8 of the 10 recent presidents are pictured with toothy smiles.
Admissions of Defeat: 2
No comment. I'm not a confrontation person. I don't want to go on record with my opinion of SSW vs. SSe {115A Toronto-to-D.C. heading} being decided by a Flemish Painter {116D FP Jan van __}. Nor how my attachment to GEl instead of GEM {108A Setting item} colors my attitude toward BEDIMS {83D Obfuscates}.
Commentary: ACPT
The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is next weekend. There will be another puzzle before that but it will probably be over before I post. For those who chose to live vicariously:
Wordplay, the movie.
Crossworld: One Man's Journey into America's Crossword Obsession by Marc Ramano (Broadway 2005). “This book, then, is the story of my quest ... to place at least near the top half of the single largest such competition in the nation.” p28.
From Square One: A Mediation, with Digression, on Crosswords by Dean Olsher (Scribner 2009). Watching Al Sounders lose, pp101-103.
Cruciverbalism: A Crossword Fanatic's Guide to Life in the Grid by Stanley Newman. (Collins 2006). Preparing for and winning in 1981, pp25-35.
Zen and the Art of Crossword Puzzles: A Journey Down and Across by Nikki Katz (Adams 2006). Interviews with Ellen Ripstein & Tyler Hinman, pp177-187.
The Crossword Obsession: The History and Lore of the World's Most Popular Pastime by Coral Amende (Berkley 2001). Commentary on the ACPT from a dozen+ people, pp173-180.
And the winner is
Gridlock: Crossword Puzzles and the Mad Geniuses Who Create Them by Matt Gaffney (Thunder's Mouth 2006). A chapter on judging the ACPT, pp 1-32.
Enjoy.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
by Elizabeth C. Gorski
edited by Mike Shenk
February 12, 2010
Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page.
Theme: A border of presidential names with nonpresidential clues.
HOOVER {1A Big name in carpet cleaning}
CLINTON {7A “Atomic Dog” singer George}
REAGAN {14A Frank who led the NFL in interceptions in 1947}
ARTHUR {130A He worked knights}
KENNEDY {131A “Ironweed” author William}
MONROE {132A DiMaggio's love}
HARRISON {1D “Here Comes the Sun” writer}
NIXON {19D Co-star of Parker, Cattrall and Davis}
PIERCE {52D Puncture}
TAYLOR {63D Grammy winner Swift}
COOLIDGE {92D “All Time High” singer Rita}
OBAMA {105D Port north of Kyoto}
PRESIDENTS BOX {72A Theater VIP section, as suggested by the answers on this puzzle's edges}
Although not suggested by the answer clue, five other names appear. I imagine Ms. Gorski had five more clues she didn't want to waste.
BUSH {33A Wild parts of Australia}
LINCOLN {42A Car introduced in 1920}
MADISON {99A Avenue east of Fifth}
FORD {111A Cross, in a way}
JEFFERSON {48D Blues legend Blind Lemon}
These were so symmetric, I wanted the inner names to form a second pattern, or perhaps a secret message along with the black boxes, but that would have been gilding the lily.
The clues came from a range of human activity.
Commerce: HOOVER, LINCOLN
Music: CLINTON, HARRISON, TAYLOR, COOLIDGE, JEFFERSON
Sports: REAGAN
Myth: ARTHUR
Literature: KENNEDY
Film & TV: MONROE, NIXON
Misc verbs: PIERCE, FORD
Geography: OBAMA, BUSH, MADISON
Ten of the 17 clues were proper names.
This should have been easy. Seventeen names from a finite list of 43* names which any American should know by heart. I didn't. Furthermore, I spent waay too long being confused by a president's whose name ends in an A?? Seriously. Being inclined to think historically is no excuse.
*Obama is our 44th president but Grover Cleveland split terms so counts as 22nd and 24th. Therefore 43 men have been 44 presidents.
Off topic: Other presidential trivia. My source for the above was a Presidents of the United States of America laminated placemat that doubles as my desk blotter. According to this infallible source, 4 presidents had full beards; 3 had mustaches; and 3 had an assortment of other face fuzz. Taft's mustache in 1913 was the last facial hair in the White House. Since Kennedy, 8 of the 10 recent presidents are pictured with toothy smiles.
Admissions of Defeat: 2
No comment. I'm not a confrontation person. I don't want to go on record with my opinion of SSW vs. SSe {115A Toronto-to-D.C. heading} being decided by a Flemish Painter {116D FP Jan van __}. Nor how my attachment to GEl instead of GEM {108A Setting item} colors my attitude toward BEDIMS {83D Obfuscates}.
Commentary: ACPT
The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is next weekend. There will be another puzzle before that but it will probably be over before I post. For those who chose to live vicariously:
Wordplay, the movie.
Crossworld: One Man's Journey into America's Crossword Obsession by Marc Ramano (Broadway 2005). “This book, then, is the story of my quest ... to place at least near the top half of the single largest such competition in the nation.” p28.
From Square One: A Mediation, with Digression, on Crosswords by Dean Olsher (Scribner 2009). Watching Al Sounders lose, pp101-103.
Cruciverbalism: A Crossword Fanatic's Guide to Life in the Grid by Stanley Newman. (Collins 2006). Preparing for and winning in 1981, pp25-35.
Zen and the Art of Crossword Puzzles: A Journey Down and Across by Nikki Katz (Adams 2006). Interviews with Ellen Ripstein & Tyler Hinman, pp177-187.
The Crossword Obsession: The History and Lore of the World's Most Popular Pastime by Coral Amende (Berkley 2001). Commentary on the ACPT from a dozen+ people, pp173-180.
And the winner is
Gridlock: Crossword Puzzles and the Mad Geniuses Who Create Them by Matt Gaffney (Thunder's Mouth 2006). A chapter on judging the ACPT, pp 1-32.
Enjoy.
Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan
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