I only play the Bee occasionally, partly because all I ever hear about it is ckmplaints about what it will and won't accept.
I mean, I empathize on COPE (or whatever) but the continual lawyering about the word list is (a) boring and (b) a disincentive to play the game.
― the hardline according to shrimp on the b'arby (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 6 September 2020 01:56 (three years ago) link
* complaints
― the hardline according to shrimp on the b'arby (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 6 September 2020 01:57 (three years ago) link
I agree, everything I hear about Spelling Bee is complaints about the word list
― Michael F Gill, Sunday, 6 September 2020 02:14 (three years ago) link
I play it every day and enjoy it, shortcomings and all. Even if I chafe against its word list (AARGH and YECCH and YECH are all accepted), it's broadened my vocabulary (tomtit, lanai).
― Ruth Bae Ginsburg (Leee), Sunday, 6 September 2020 03:20 (three years ago) link
I’m past bitching about the spelling bee word list; all games have arbitrary rules or else they wouldn’t be games. I don’t have enough time in the day or brains in my head to ever reach “queen bee” but as long as I hit Genius and get a pangram I’m happy. I do wish they let you play through past spelling bees like the regular puzzle and track stats. I’ll assume that’s coming if enough people keep playing it.
― sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Thursday, 10 September 2020 03:29 (three years ago) link
Today's Spelling Bee is brutal.
― Ruth Bae Ginsburg (Leee), Saturday, 12 September 2020 00:17 (three years ago) link
I just barely managed genius. I hate that E sitting in the middle ruining all the easy -ing options
― sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Saturday, 12 September 2020 00:18 (three years ago) link
Exactly!
― Ruth Bae Ginsburg (Leee), Saturday, 12 September 2020 15:02 (three years ago) link
weekly themeless tournament starting in October, looks cool:
https://www.boswords.org/
― Wayne Grotski (symsymsym), Thursday, 17 September 2020 18:23 (three years ago) link
Additional rules here which definitely answered some questions I had: https://www.boswords.org/nuts-and-bolts
― Out, vile jelleee (Leee), Sunday, 20 September 2020 18:06 (three years ago) link
Can someone explain 117 Across from today's puzzle?
― Kaliningrad Oberst (Leee), Sunday, 27 September 2020 17:05 (three years ago) link
like "reputation"
― Piven After Midnight (The Yellow Kid), Sunday, 27 September 2020 17:36 (three years ago) link
hey will shortz “panini” is plural you donut
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 27 September 2020 19:01 (three years ago) link
Ah thanks, Yellow!
― Kaliningrad Oberst (Leee), Sunday, 27 September 2020 21:12 (three years ago) link
Boswords pre-season starts this Wednesday!
― Kaliningrad Oberst (Leee), Monday, 28 September 2020 18:27 (three years ago) link
preseason puzzle was tough! took me over 13 minutes, but no wrong squares
― Wayne Grotski (symsymsym), Thursday, 1 October 2020 04:56 (three years ago) link
typing out and retyping out today's goddam rebuses on a tablet fucked up my time something fierce
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 1 October 2020 19:08 (three years ago) link
first sub-six minute Wednesday tho
i don't entirely know how to go much faster than that? I can often get to 5 on mondays but doing any quicker than that on any difficult level seems impossible because of the time spent reading and inputting clues. do people faster than that just immediately know all the answers?
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 1 October 2020 19:10 (three years ago) link
yes
― Erdős-szám 69 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 1 October 2020 20:20 (three years ago) link
seems like that would get a little boring but what do i know
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 1 October 2020 20:33 (three years ago) link
Mondays are boring, no doubt. It's basically just typing. But streaks and low average times are nice so I just do them, like taking medicine.
― zombeekeeper (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 1 October 2020 20:47 (three years ago) link
can someone explain Thursdays crossword to me?
i thought i understood the concept of rebus but im confused by
Stage a coup RGAONTROL
― flopson, Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:07 (three years ago) link
grABControl
― sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:08 (three years ago) link
Thursday’s broke us too, we had a really nice streak going and I had just been thinking “60 more days of working from home in lockdown and we’ll finally crack the previous streak record!”
― sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:10 (three years ago) link
thx!
― flopson, Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:12 (three years ago) link
I loved Thursday, but then I am a 1970s person, aware of the now-dated gimmick.
I could see that numbers were going to be involved when I filled in 3 down, but it wasn't clear yet what was going on so I just went ahead and kept solving.
I think what gave it away (for me) was GENGHIS not fitting unless you did a rebus for the GHI and that was my "aha" moment.
― May you live in interesting Times New Roman (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:23 (three years ago) link
We stupidly attempted plugging in the actual numbers into the rebus a couple of different ways
― sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:34 (three years ago) link
Yes, I'm hearing that it was picky about how you typed it in, but I didn't have trouble.
― May you live in interesting Times New Roman (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 3 October 2020 19:37 (three years ago) link
i hated it but i am a crossword noob
tom what was
Bisected INA
― flopson, Saturday, 3 October 2020 20:21 (three years ago) link
It was In 2. The conceit of the puzzle was that in one direction the answers were a number and in the other direction they were the 3 letter sequence paired with the number on a touchtone phone.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Saturday, 3 October 2020 20:28 (three years ago) link
I signe up for Boswords w/ a friend, on the medium difficulty. Incidentally, I am not fast and he is. Proud to be deadweight.
― rb (soda), Saturday, 3 October 2020 21:41 (three years ago) link
Stage a Coup: grABControlbisect: In2
so that one square was ABC/2 which was unpleasant to type and requires you to remember push button/rotary phones.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Saturday, 3 October 2020 22:00 (three years ago) link
You could just leave it as ABC though?
― Andrew Farrell, Saturday, 3 October 2020 23:35 (three years ago) link
Iirc it accepted 2, and then once the puzzle was complete it displayed as ABC.
― May you live in interesting Times New Roman (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 3 October 2020 23:38 (three years ago) link
didn't try that!
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 4 October 2020 00:10 (three years ago) link
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Saturday, October 3, 2020 4:28 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
Omg... mind blown
completed my first Saturday today :)
― flopson, Sunday, 4 October 2020 04:26 (three years ago) link
The most recent Saturday was another tough one, especially the SE. Nearly a DNF.
Did pretty well for Bosword's week 1!
― Fisherman's Worf (Leee), Monday, 12 October 2020 22:44 (three years ago) link
Boswords week 1 wrecked me, but I did much better on week 2
― Wayne Grotski (symsymsym), Tuesday, 13 October 2020 06:28 (three years ago) link
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/27/crosswords/do-you-play-spelling-bee-lets-talk.html
― Fisherman's Worf (Leee), Tuesday, 13 October 2020 15:32 (three years ago) link
Made a boneheaded error in week 2. :(
― I want to luhbahguh babum gum (Leee), Wednesday, 14 October 2020 18:18 (three years ago) link
Did the puzzle today for the first time since, well, whenever I last posted here. Seemed super easy for a Friday.
― Here Comes a Slightly Irregular (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 16 October 2020 20:38 (three years ago) link
Same re: Boswords. 'loci' for 'foci' and another error took my score to the crapper.
― america's favorite (remy bean), Friday, 16 October 2020 21:25 (three years ago) link
oh that was my week 1 mistake too!
― Wayne Grotski (symsymsym), Saturday, 17 October 2020 01:17 (three years ago) link
434 monday is my new top speed. I think i am approaching apex there for me.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 19 October 2020 04:34 (three years ago) link
some nice chewy answers on saturday. loved it.
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Monday, 19 October 2020 06:49 (three years ago) link
Saturday was really challenging! But well-constructed enough that I didn't get naticked.
I see the Bosword standings for week 2, and they did not dock me for my incorrect answers (unless I had a major brain fart and actually answered correctly).
― I want to luhbahguh babum gum (Leee), Monday, 19 October 2020 17:48 (three years ago) link
I don’t seem to have shown up in the week 2 bosword standings?
― rb (soda), Monday, 19 October 2020 18:10 (three years ago) link
boswords week 3 was tough, got in under 12 minutes clean
― Wayne Grotski (symsymsym), Tuesday, 20 October 2020 17:03 (three years ago) link
Tricky Thursday!
― I want to luhbahguh babum gum (Leee), Thursday, 22 October 2020 21:37 (three years ago) link