what vistas would open up to american puzzlemakers if these supermarket brands ever opened their doors in north america:
LIDLALDI
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 12:29 (three years ago) link
also ASDA
― Mein Skampf (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 12:34 (three years ago) link
ETDAONEASTI
― mozzy star (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 12:39 (three years ago) link
I'm a big fan of working in five or ten minute chunks on a hard puzzle, for exactly the reason mookie just gave. Conveniently, five or ten minute chunks what my schedule permits. I'm also noticeably better at solving puzzles between, like, 6am and 4pm. Before/after my brain is mooshy. I don't like a lot of the NYTimes regular constructors, but I (honestly) don't know where to go to find other free, dece quality puzzles I can do on my phone. I'm so weary of the ETTA / ASTA /ARIA / ERIE / ETALIA fill style.
soda on the main thread
― Andrew Farrell, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 12:40 (three years ago) link
AIDAARIANORMATOSCA
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 12:51 (three years ago) link
(xpost!)
ETALETALIAEIREODEDCCED
― rb (soda), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 13:30 (three years ago) link
ELLSEELS
― rb (soda), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 13:32 (three years ago) link
EIRE really grinds my gears
― Mein Skampf (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 13:41 (three years ago) link
UEY (as in u-turn) is the worst
north america has ALDI!
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 15:09 (three years ago) link
ASTAELOI
― all cats are beautiful (silby), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 15:19 (three years ago) link
^Two favorites
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 15:30 (three years ago) link
*Note from OP: repeats are allowed and encouraged, bonus points awarded for any kind of rhyming, internal or external, wordplay, word ladder, etc you can make out of your grouped entries
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 15:31 (three years ago) link
agreed, for many reasons, not the least because the "UIE" spelling makes a lot more sense
― mozzy star (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 16:27 (three years ago) link
this thread could go on for EONs
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 17:47 (three years ago) link
AMNOTARETOO
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 17:52 (three years ago) link
ASAMI
― Bougy! Bougie! Bougé! (Eliza D.), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 17:53 (three years ago) link
brb gonna board an ELAL SST and fly NNE over the URALS
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 17:54 (three years ago) link
ERNERNEENYA
― Blursday the Vagueteenth of Whenember (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:04 (three years ago) link
xp while performing an ARIA?
― Bougy! Bougie! Bougé! (Eliza D.), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:17 (three years ago) link
ASAMISODOI
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:20 (three years ago) link
You know I started a parody song using this stuff once for a theoretical performance at the dreaded ACPT talent show. Maybe I post what I had later if I can remember it.
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:22 (three years ago) link
this year there's been a weird shift toward THE___ clues a la
THESOXTHEFEDTHEBREAKS
and I hate them all and they make me go
ERRIRRARR
― rb (soda), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:22 (three years ago) link
I despise clues of the 'direction between CITY 1 and CITY 2' sort where the answer is
ENE ESE SSE SSW WSW WNW NNW
― rb (soda), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:25 (three years ago) link
Yep
― Mein Skampf (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:27 (three years ago) link
(To the tune of "Take a Letter, Maria")Last night I was ONKPAcross from the APOI was EYED up by a dog named OTTOWho report to the NCO
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:29 (three years ago) link
reports
What's the big deal? Just travel to one of those cities, find a high vantage point, get out your lensatic compass, and point it at a known landmark in the target city. Easy peasy.
Take your dog ASTA with you.
― Blursday the Vagueteenth of Whenember (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:31 (three years ago) link
(some story about receiving a Dear John letter I haven't flesh out yet. Then...)
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:32 (three years ago) link
IBEX
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:38 (three years ago) link
So take a letter, a rebusWith pen or pencil you can writeTo solve it electronicallyYou'd better find Across Lite
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:38 (three years ago) link
(Which is the chorus, which will repeat, with the last chorus changing to)So take a letter, Merl ReagleAddress it to Will ShortzSit on a potato panI put soot on warts
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:42 (three years ago) link
There's just a weird lot of common / borderline crosswordese stuff. Seems like with a theme this (relatively) light, the fill wouldn't be so IRR AROD RIIS ESTA TELEX ORES ORSO ACTI ANTE AXLE etc. The worst of the short fill, though, was the GPO / EEOC crossing. Truly awful, if only because their crossing *initialisms*, which means if you don't know what the letters ... stand for ... you have no hope.
from rex parker's blog entry today. when i used to do the NYT crossword more often i enjoyed reading his takes and particularly his low tolerance for lazy crosswordese, when applicable
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:42 (three years ago) link
I think reviewing the crossword every day for however many years has driven him to madness, like Andy Daly in Review
― Wayne Grotski (symsymsym), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:46 (three years ago) link
I know it drove me a little mad, just doing them every day. Duolingo is a moderately better addiction.
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:49 (three years ago) link
ISSA RAE
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:49 (three years ago) link
ooh one i hate is EAPOE. have seen it in at least three xwords
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:55 (three years ago) link
oy and all those french rivers!
RHINERHONESEINELOIREOISEYSER
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 18:57 (three years ago) link
ODER
― Mein Skampf (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 19:00 (three years ago) link
(side note: I am probably way more forgiving of these than most, because my delight in solving is rooted in good cluing, interesting and/or tricky themes, interesting long answers - not, primarily, in avoiding crosswordese.
It's great when a constructor avoids EKE or ALOU, sure; but I don't construct puzzles so I don't know how easy or hard it is to do consistently interesting themed puzzles without ever resorting to ANTE or YSER or whatever. Definitely seeing some 20th-century stuff just age out of common use. ERNE and SST still pop up but are waning, in my experience.)
― the word "restaurateur" doesn't have an n in it (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 19:00 (three years ago) link
Sure, but it is at least Irish for Ireland - Erin and Erse can get to fuck, though.
― Andrew Farrell, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 19:22 (three years ago) link
sure could use a MRPIBB
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:31 (three years ago) link
what gets me are the ones that are slightly out of date, e.g.
EMAGPDA for a deviceHIRES for a monitor instead of HIDEF
― wasdnous (abanana), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:40 (three years ago) link
equally annoying are the ones that are just a tad too current, like1 Across: "It's ____!"and the answer is POPPIN
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:42 (three years ago) link
Yeah the "archaism" is part of what makes me itchy about the clueing for Eire
― Mein Skampf (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:43 (three years ago) link
always exciting to see if it'll be KEA or LOA
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:49 (three years ago) link
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, July 15, 2020 3:42 PM (thirteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
better clue would be "my lip gloss is _____"
― mozzy star (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:58 (three years ago) link
okay, maybe not TOO current
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 20:59 (three years ago) link
The phrase TINKERS to EVERS to CHANCE just popped into my head, which used to be a crossword staple when I was coming up, seems to linger on and pop up every once in a while nowadays. https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2009/04/tuesday-apr-21-2009-rj-nj-byron-1946.html?m=1
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 21:09 (three years ago) link
https://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/gonfalon/
― Isolde mein Herz zum Junker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 21:10 (three years ago) link
Sung to the tune of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUZvfpVfW0k
― The Ballad of Mel Cooley (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 14 March 2021 02:44 (three years ago) link
RIP, Felix Silla aka Cousin ITT.
― It Is Dangerous to Meme Inside (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 17 April 2021 00:36 (three years ago) link
beedybeedybeedy
― Josefa, Saturday, 17 April 2021 00:38 (three years ago) link
Pre-Shortz word with exactly one appereance in the, um, modern era: SLUB
― Presenting the Fabulous Redettes Featuring James (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 18 January 2022 15:13 (two years ago) link
CYMA was/is a curvy molding.
― Presenting the Fabulous Redettes Featuring James (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 18 January 2022 15:14 (two years ago) link
https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/aug/2/spare-moments-of-litzing/
― Presenting the Fabulous Redettes Featuring James (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 07:03 (two years ago) link
KRAAL was popular throughout the first three NYT editor eras but disappeared in the Shortz zone, but KRAIT managed to live on for a quite a bit.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 14:38 (two years ago) link
My mother gave up crosswords for good over ANOA ("Celebes wild ox") and I think that one has lingered a bit into the Shortz era.
Most of those I'm glad to see aren't in circulation.
They're still using "sea eagle" (ERN/ERNE/ERNES) and the anti-Crosswordese faction hates it. Me, I just shrug and fill it in because it's part of the culture. SNEE and SMEE remain frequent.
― umami dearest (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 14:44 (two years ago) link
Wasn't that the email of Will's assistant, celebe✧✧✧@fu✧✧✧.c✧✧? Let me check.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 14:48 (two years ago) link
celebesox
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 14:50 (two years ago) link
As seen here: https://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/american-crossword-puzzle-tournament-brooklyn-or-stamford-a-special-message-from-will-shortz/
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 19 January 2022 14:56 (two years ago) link
Old school variant spelling: FIORD. Although four uses in the Shortz era.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 February 2022 16:18 (two years ago) link
Now I want to call a trivia team or suchlike CELEBE SOX. DO U SEE?
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 February 2022 18:51 (two years ago) link
I doubt anyone will want to follow me down this rabbit hole, but really enjoying doing these Dawn of the Shortz Era puzzles.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 01:16 (two years ago) link
Do you mean like deep 90s stuff? More power to you, JR+tB. I have only dabbled in that area.
Currently I am working my way backwards into the archive, year by year. Currently on 2012, generally doing Wednesday through Saturday. (I usually don't bother with Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday except to keep the streak alive.)
2012 has a couple of decently clever Thursdays and some tough Fridays, but it's all pretty recognizable Shortziana. Looking forward to some baffling stumpers and Celebes Oxyness as the project proceeds. I am getting a graduate-level education in baseball-playing Alous.
At the same time I am trying to nurse a decent streak of current puzzles. Hope to hit a year in March or April.
― Bill Kristol Meth (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 6 February 2022 03:39 (two years ago) link
The only time I think of ANI Difranco is when I do the crossword.
― Sam Weller, Sunday, 6 February 2022 08:24 (two years ago) link
November 21st, 1993 was the beginning of the Shortz Era, which began with a splash with a Sunday puzzle by Peter Gordon, who therefore has a Shortz Number of one. I have yet to encounter Celebe’s ox or even DRNO himself.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 15:45 (two years ago) link
Actually I must have seen him on December 27, 1993, but won’t see him again for a year.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 15:48 (two years ago) link
Kind of like the retro nature of doing puzzles that are from before the blogs and before XWord Info comments, but still in the database so I can see the stats along which answers and clues are still used.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 16:35 (two years ago) link
You can even solve the Pre-Shortz puzzles if you want, but I don't want.https://www.xwordinfo.com/Calendar/1993?type=pssolve
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 18:42 (two years ago) link
I have a book of Eugene Maleska-era puzzles, and trying to solve them is like getting ice water thrown in your face. They’re so insane you wonder how people actually finished them back then.
― Josefa, Sunday, 6 February 2022 19:02 (two years ago) link
In Infinite Tuesday, Mike Nesmith talks about how he had an uncle who would do the Sunday crossword pretty quickly– presumably some Texas paper– and then throw it away. One day young Michael fished the paper out of the garbage and saw all these unpronounceable nonsense words. It was like that moment in the documentary when R. Crumb finally looks at his brother’s sketchbook to see his latest work.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 19:44 (two years ago) link
Part of the enigma that was Uncle Chick came into a degree of focus one Sunday after he had finished the crossword puzzle and left for the golf course. It didn’t make sense to me, this extraordinary word skill, and Chick didn’t really discuss anything with me that gave any hint about his thought processes. So on this Sunday I pulled the paper out of the trash, where he had thrown it, and looked at the puzzle, searching for clues. When I first looked at the filled-in puzzle, it seemed normal. Words like moon and igloo and kayak were in their proper place. Then I started to notice words like fonqi and nmfberhng and qplltrkller. Then I finally saw that most of the words were unrecognizable, and weren’t words at all. As this sank in, I was glad I was alone in the house. I carefully folded the paper up, put it back in the trash, and backed away.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 19:52 (two years ago) link
That is funny. I bet Maleska could find a way to clue fonqi though.
― Josefa, Sunday, 6 February 2022 20:13 (two years ago) link
I remember being able to do early week puzzles and even a leisurely Sunday puzzle solve back in those days, although I never attempted to speed solve and barely even tried Friday and Saturday.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 20:19 (two years ago) link
Interesting to see how the cluing of EGAN has evolved.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 20:54 (two years ago) link
Check it out: EGAN was in three puzzles in a row, Sun through Tuesday, starting the week of Jan 9, 1994.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 February 2022 21:02 (two years ago) link
Prefer this clue for one of today's answers from 1994: Hagar the Horrible's honey.
― Tapioca Tumbril (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 7 February 2022 15:35 (two years ago) link
bobdole/clinton entry in the NYT sunday puzzle apparently
― adam t. (abanana), Monday, 7 February 2022 15:50 (two years ago) link
Monday's puzzle chock-a-block with classic crosswordese.
― Solaris Ocean Blue (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 21 February 2022 00:24 (two years ago) link
crossword constructors breathe sigh of relief as ESAI morales is cast in the new mission impossible movie
― orifex, Monday, 23 May 2022 16:28 (two years ago) link
Lol!
― Apollo and the Aqueducts (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 23 May 2022 16:29 (two years ago) link
Was just reminded on Novelists No One Reads Anymore of SOBIG, which I recall seeing a lot although doesn't seem to be that often in Shortz Era NYT.
― Capital Radio Sweetheart (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 28 October 2022 14:31 (one year ago) link
Have to ask - is there anyone who calls a peanut butter and jelly sandwich a PBJ irl? PB and J to be sure, or even PBNJ, but PBJ? this has recently risen to the top of my bugaboo list
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Sunday, 10 March 2024 23:12 (two months ago) link
i am okay with that one
less so with TAX BITE, which appeared the other day
― mookieproof, Monday, 11 March 2024 01:08 (two months ago) link
Agreed, I remember that puzzle seemed to have a few answers that were questionable
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Monday, 11 March 2024 12:29 (two months ago) link