The final scores are tallied, and I'm tied for 38th this year. Neil Glat, if you're reading this, you will be happy to note that Rex Parker (http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com) claims to be 44th "in the universe," but he didn't compete this year, so we'll never know.
Despite a slow puzzle 7 (e.g. I lost 2 minutes to Ken Stern, who finished 37th), I picked up a few places in the rankings. For example, David Phethean, who was 3 minutes ahead of me after 6 puzzles, blew up and finished 6 minutes behind me on puzzle 7.
Interestingly for the tournament overall, Tyler Hinman finished 4th, so we will have a new champion for the first time in 6 years. Trip Payne finished 5th; I hope signing my dad's get-well note didn't jinx them both. I did say "break a leg" to them....
Sunday, February 21, 2010
After Puzzle 7
As they say in Vancouver, I believe I skated a clean program. 7 compulsory elements up, 7 down, no mistakes, but no triple axels either. I'm in 41st place after 6 puzzles, and puzzle 7 (by Merl Reagle, with fewer puns than usual, but still a nice gadget; more on that later) was smooth but slow. So I may gain or lose a place, but the top 40 almost certainly remains uncracked this year.
Here are my times for each puzzle, compared to Dan Feyer, the fastest solver through 6 puzzles:
Puzzle My time Dan Feyer's time
------ --------- -----------------
1 - - - - - 6 minutes 3 minutes
2 - - - - - 9 - - - - - 4
3 - - - - - 11 - - - - - 6
4 - - - - - 5 - - - - - 3
5 - - - - - 19 - - - - - 6
6 - - - - - 8 - - - - - 5
So through 6 puzzles, I took 58 minutes, and Feyer took 27! I will concede that the evidence suggests Feyer is a faster solver than I am, but the sickest thing is his time on puzzle 5, which was a legitimately hard puzzle, and which Feyer solved in the same time it took me to do warm-up puzzle #1. I say "feh" unto him.
More on puzzle 7 later--I have to go pick up Alison, Jodie, Lauren, and Susann at the airport.
Here are my times for each puzzle, compared to Dan Feyer, the fastest solver through 6 puzzles:
Puzzle My time Dan Feyer's time
------ --------- -----------------
1 - - - - - 6 minutes 3 minutes
2 - - - - - 9 - - - - - 4
3 - - - - - 11 - - - - - 6
4 - - - - - 5 - - - - - 3
5 - - - - - 19 - - - - - 6
6 - - - - - 8 - - - - - 5
So through 6 puzzles, I took 58 minutes, and Feyer took 27! I will concede that the evidence suggests Feyer is a faster solver than I am, but the sickest thing is his time on puzzle 5, which was a legitimately hard puzzle, and which Feyer solved in the same time it took me to do warm-up puzzle #1. I say "feh" unto him.
More on puzzle 7 later--I have to go pick up Alison, Jodie, Lauren, and Susann at the airport.
Neil Singer's Virtual Cast
The crossword world has spoken--we miss Neil Singer and demand that he get well soon! You will see that the signers of Neil's virtual cast include:
- Will Shortz, editor of the New York Times Crossword and tournament director
- Fred Piscop, Frank Longo, Byron Walden, and Rich Silvestri, all distinguished crossword constructors
- Tyler Hinman, Trip Payne, and Jon Delfin, current and past ACPT champions
- Susan Hoffman (27th this year) and Amy Reynaldo (13th this year), super-fast solvers and my daily competitors on the NY Times crossword online (Hoffmanspa and Areynaldo are their screen names)
- The heroic crowd in my section this year, Tom, Trey, Mark, Craig, and Rita
Saturday, February 20, 2010
"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." — Gore Vidal
I caught up with Tom G. (the nice guy from Oregon with the ranking I want, need, and DESERVE) after puzzle 5. He cracked on puzzle 5--for "Part of un año," he put JUNIT, which I suspect he knew was wrong when he entered it but he couldn't figure out why. The cross word for the last letter of JUNIT was the last letter of "Bridge opening." Now, according to my uncle Jim, the correct answer to that one is "three no trump," almost regardless of one's hand, skill level, or opposing bidding. Much recrimination and gnashing of teeth has resulted from uncle Jim's intrepid bidding style during our family's semiannual bridge games in Newton, MA. However, for unknown reasons, the answer they were looking for was "ONE NO," and so the last letter is O, making the "part of un año" into "JUNIO," which es el sexto mes del año. Que bueno. JUNIT ain't in it, as Jack Aubrey might say. But Tom G had thought the answer was "ONE NT," with the NT meaning "no trump." Lesser men would have wept, but Tom G took it well, if you don't count the rending of his garment.
After puzzle 5
This is the very toughest of the seven, and there was much sighing in the rookie section. I am still fuming about missed letters from past years' fifth puzzles--"battu boy" (not to be confused with Ali G's "batty boy," a disparaging term for LGBT) was particulary irksome.
This year's #5 had its moments. Try these:
--"Universal" (5 letters, starting with TYP). I got this one and still stared at it for a long time trying to figure out whether it was right.
--"Temple pilasters" (5 letters, ending with TAE).
Thank goodness for "Guardian Angels founder Curtis" (5 letters)--I used to listen to him and Ron Kuby yell at each other on 770 radio at night while I was driving home from Nabisco late at night. If I'm ever attacked in the New York DMA, I will be looking for Curtis Sliwa and his band of vigilantes to kneecap my assailants without mercy, or something.
Did you know the 2016 Olympics will be in Rio? I guess I should have. Did you know that Hanoi is celebrating its 1000th anniversary this year? No wonder they put a Hilton there.
Another fun sartorial fact: the guy with the crossword Doc Martens and the green polyester shirt came back from lunch with different shoes and shirt. (He was still flaunting the knee highs though.) I asked him why, and he explained that his favorite team (Chelsea) had come back from a 2-0 deficit to win, and therefore he was wearing his commemorative orange shirt. And he found it "a bit slushy" outside and changed shoes (to protect the sanctity of the crossword kicks, no doubt). Okay....
Answers
TYPEO
ANTAE
This year's #5 had its moments. Try these:
--"Universal" (5 letters, starting with TYP). I got this one and still stared at it for a long time trying to figure out whether it was right.
--"Temple pilasters" (5 letters, ending with TAE).
Thank goodness for "Guardian Angels founder Curtis" (5 letters)--I used to listen to him and Ron Kuby yell at each other on 770 radio at night while I was driving home from Nabisco late at night. If I'm ever attacked in the New York DMA, I will be looking for Curtis Sliwa and his band of vigilantes to kneecap my assailants without mercy, or something.
Did you know the 2016 Olympics will be in Rio? I guess I should have. Did you know that Hanoi is celebrating its 1000th anniversary this year? No wonder they put a Hilton there.
Another fun sartorial fact: the guy with the crossword Doc Martens and the green polyester shirt came back from lunch with different shoes and shirt. (He was still flaunting the knee highs though.) I asked him why, and he explained that his favorite team (Chelsea) had come back from a 2-0 deficit to win, and therefore he was wearing his commemorative orange shirt. And he found it "a bit slushy" outside and changed shoes (to protect the sanctity of the crossword kicks, no doubt). Okay....
Answers
TYPEO
ANTAE
After Puzzle 4
I've discovered the pleasures of middle age: I know the VP between Hubert and Gerald (5 letters). He was from Maryland, about the only famous person from that state, with the exception of Cal Ripken. An object of derision in my family at the time.
The theme to puzzle 4 was "without fail," and the answers to the long clues were
--uncle buck (John Candy movie)
--brass hat (military pooh-bah)
--juice bar (place to buy a smoothie)
--blow torch (tool with a flame)
--doing time (serving a sentence)
--wavy gravy (Woodstock emcee who had a Ben and Jerry's flavor named after him)
"What you can do to the end of each of these answers" (67 across) is "pass". Hence, without fail. Very droll.
Answers
SPIRO
The theme to puzzle 4 was "without fail," and the answers to the long clues were
--uncle buck (John Candy movie)
--brass hat (military pooh-bah)
--juice bar (place to buy a smoothie)
--blow torch (tool with a flame)
--doing time (serving a sentence)
--wavy gravy (Woodstock emcee who had a Ben and Jerry's flavor named after him)
"What you can do to the end of each of these answers" (67 across) is "pass". Hence, without fail. Very droll.
Answers
SPIRO
Puzzle 3
I'm here with Tom Gazzola from Portland, OR, who is definitely going to win his state (unopposed), like my classmate Chris Dudley (running for governor there). We are eating wraps at Tony's Famous--it's lunch break. Tom finished 35th last year, which makes him a target of opportunity. He recommends the gingko biloba--it's good for the memory. I recommend grinding up No-Doz and huffing it like Michael Phelps on a bender. (I hope Tom takes my advice.)
Puzzle 3 had absolutely nothing remarkable. I am bereft of comments. It was 19x19, which is a big puzzle (the Sunday NYT is 21x21, for comparison), and I cracked it in 11 minutes.
So one I got without any letters was "1979 Peter Falk comedy," which was... The In-laws. I believe Alan Arkin was in it, but I don't really remember, as I was 14 when the movie came out. I think that's the one where Peter Falk yells "serpentine, serpentine!" as Alan Arkin is avoiding bullets in the desert... or maybe I am having a flashback to recess at Carderock Springs Elementary.
66-down was "activity for those who lack intelligence" (9 letters), starting with ES. 34-down was "Half-___ (skateboarding site)," (4 letters) which I thought was a missed opportunity for a Winter Olympics reference. Poor form, Will.
There is another talent show (reprise of the one in Word Play) on Sunday after puzzle 7. The cruciverbalists are invited to show off their diverse talents; sadly I will be driving to White Plains to pick up Alison and the kids from the airport at that time, so I will miss what promises to be a mashup of Fellini, Greenwich Village vaudeville, and Joseph Conrad ("the horror, the horror").
Answers:
ESPIONAGE
PIPE
Puzzle 3 had absolutely nothing remarkable. I am bereft of comments. It was 19x19, which is a big puzzle (the Sunday NYT is 21x21, for comparison), and I cracked it in 11 minutes.
So one I got without any letters was "1979 Peter Falk comedy," which was... The In-laws. I believe Alan Arkin was in it, but I don't really remember, as I was 14 when the movie came out. I think that's the one where Peter Falk yells "serpentine, serpentine!" as Alan Arkin is avoiding bullets in the desert... or maybe I am having a flashback to recess at Carderock Springs Elementary.
66-down was "activity for those who lack intelligence" (9 letters), starting with ES. 34-down was "Half-___ (skateboarding site)," (4 letters) which I thought was a missed opportunity for a Winter Olympics reference. Poor form, Will.
There is another talent show (reprise of the one in Word Play) on Sunday after puzzle 7. The cruciverbalists are invited to show off their diverse talents; sadly I will be driving to White Plains to pick up Alison and the kids from the airport at that time, so I will miss what promises to be a mashup of Fellini, Greenwich Village vaudeville, and Joseph Conrad ("the horror, the horror").
Answers:
ESPIONAGE
PIPE
Puzzle 2--now I get it
"Fuhgeddaboutit!" That's what "they" say in New York, right? So, in solving this puzzle, forget about "it," meaning "drop the last IT off the answer"--that's the theme to puzzle 2. Obviously.
Now, I would feel more proud of having figured that out, except that in puzzle 2, the clue to 65 across (14 letters) was "No way! ...and a hint to 22-, 35-, 43- and 52-across." And the answer was "fuhgeddaboutit," which I got. So why didn't I know that was the explanation for the theme of the puzzle? Because I was working the cross words and never even read the clue while I was solving the puzzle. (Usually it takes too long to read the clues to the long answers and figure out the theme while solving, so I skip them altogether, as long as the cross words are coming along fast.) So, yes, "duh" is quite apt here. I'm gruntled that I got it right anyway, even though I was not ept and lacked feck.
Cool new concept: blast Sesame Street music during the tournament, ideally Big Bird's signature "Farmer in the Dell" or Zoe's "Y song." That would exactly replicate my home solving conditions, and bring Tyler Hinman to his bony knees. For those of you who saw Word Play, you know that Tyler (now 24) has won the tournament the last five years in a row. After puzzle 1, Will Shortz announced that this is Tyler's last year to compete in the "youth" division (i.e. under 25) soliciting a cheer from a few college students in the crowd. A funny thing: Will announced a few upcoming crossword tournaments at Brown, Harvard, and Yale (as he does every year), and then he asked the students from Brown and Harvard who are competing today to stand up. A number of people actually cheered for them, which I haven't seen anywhere, outside of a Crocodillos tour. I'm proud to report there are no Yale students competing, owing to a scheduling conflict this weekend with the post-deconstructionist Yiddish poetry jam, the combo anti-globalization protest/celebration of harvest vegetables, and NAMBLA "hot or not?" night. Plus they are still blind drunk, as it's only1:20pm.
Now, I would feel more proud of having figured that out, except that in puzzle 2, the clue to 65 across (14 letters) was "No way! ...and a hint to 22-, 35-, 43- and 52-across." And the answer was "fuhgeddaboutit," which I got. So why didn't I know that was the explanation for the theme of the puzzle? Because I was working the cross words and never even read the clue while I was solving the puzzle. (Usually it takes too long to read the clues to the long answers and figure out the theme while solving, so I skip them altogether, as long as the cross words are coming along fast.) So, yes, "duh" is quite apt here. I'm gruntled that I got it right anyway, even though I was not ept and lacked feck.
Cool new concept: blast Sesame Street music during the tournament, ideally Big Bird's signature "Farmer in the Dell" or Zoe's "Y song." That would exactly replicate my home solving conditions, and bring Tyler Hinman to his bony knees. For those of you who saw Word Play, you know that Tyler (now 24) has won the tournament the last five years in a row. After puzzle 1, Will Shortz announced that this is Tyler's last year to compete in the "youth" division (i.e. under 25) soliciting a cheer from a few college students in the crowd. A funny thing: Will announced a few upcoming crossword tournaments at Brown, Harvard, and Yale (as he does every year), and then he asked the students from Brown and Harvard who are competing today to stand up. A number of people actually cheered for them, which I haven't seen anywhere, outside of a Crocodillos tour. I'm proud to report there are no Yale students competing, owing to a scheduling conflict this weekend with the post-deconstructionist Yiddish poetry jam, the combo anti-globalization protest/celebration of harvest vegetables, and NAMBLA "hot or not?" night. Plus they are still blind drunk, as it's only1:20pm.
After Puzzle #2
You tawkin to me? YOU TAWKIN TO ME?!?
The theme of puzzle 2 is "Can we tawk? A puzzle that can be done in a New York minute" by Elizabeth Gorski. Wild applause when they announced her name before the solving started--this is a crowd that appreciates a good constructor. The three long clues had answers that are common phrases, with the ending "IT" dropped. So "Untying the knot in Las Vegas" is "making a quick ex." And "Group that performed 'The Tears of a Clown'" is "Smokey and the band". If you can figure out how dropping "IT" relates to New York or tawking, you are ahead of me. Stop it? Drop it? Call the IT department, because they might understand this theme? Puzzling.
More joy for the media-aware: "Spider-Man director Sam" (5 letters) was a gimme, and La Salle of "ER" (4 letters) likewise. Also Virginia of "Sideways" (6 letters). This could be my year! Or else it's just evidence of the power of video entertainment--as we each watch 5 hours of TV per day (on average) and read books, newspapers, and magazines for less than 40, the culture shifts inexorably to video, and so do the constructors. Alas poor Yorick, I knew he watched too much television, Horatio.
Here's a fun one for aunt Claire: "1930s film star played by Skippy" (4 letters). This is in the upper left corner, one you have to nail fast for quick solving. Luckily, I was the happy recipient of the entire Thin Man oeuvre from Claire a few years ago, so I knew that was Asta (Nick and Nora Charles's dog, who solves crimes and smells a bit, but he has a heart of gold).
Now, for the fashionistas, we have an exciting new product this year: crossword grid embossed Doc Martens. I.e. slip on sneakers, completely covered with black and white squares (and superscript numbers), no laces, such as Spiccoli wore on Fast Times at Ridgemont High (which is really worth watching again, please drop everything and do so immediately. It's stoke-a-boka). The guy wearing the Doc Martens also has knee-high white tube socks (remember the White Shadow?), which are nicely visible, due to the height of his pant leg. And a polyester green shirt. I tell you now, you will see this on Project Runway next season. "Designers, you will be creating an outfit for the crossword-savvy metrosexual... Sprechen Sie Sassy? MAKE IT WORK!"
PS. I guess it's obvious, but if you want to read these in chronological order, start from the bottom.
Answers
RAIMI
ERIQ
MADSEN
The theme of puzzle 2 is "Can we tawk? A puzzle that can be done in a New York minute" by Elizabeth Gorski. Wild applause when they announced her name before the solving started--this is a crowd that appreciates a good constructor. The three long clues had answers that are common phrases, with the ending "IT" dropped. So "Untying the knot in Las Vegas" is "making a quick ex." And "Group that performed 'The Tears of a Clown'" is "Smokey and the band". If you can figure out how dropping "IT" relates to New York or tawking, you are ahead of me. Stop it? Drop it? Call the IT department, because they might understand this theme? Puzzling.
More joy for the media-aware: "Spider-Man director Sam" (5 letters) was a gimme, and La Salle of "ER" (4 letters) likewise. Also Virginia of "Sideways" (6 letters). This could be my year! Or else it's just evidence of the power of video entertainment--as we each watch 5 hours of TV per day (on average) and read books, newspapers, and magazines for less than 40, the culture shifts inexorably to video, and so do the constructors. Alas poor Yorick, I knew he watched too much television, Horatio.
Here's a fun one for aunt Claire: "1930s film star played by Skippy" (4 letters). This is in the upper left corner, one you have to nail fast for quick solving. Luckily, I was the happy recipient of the entire Thin Man oeuvre from Claire a few years ago, so I knew that was Asta (Nick and Nora Charles's dog, who solves crimes and smells a bit, but he has a heart of gold).
Now, for the fashionistas, we have an exciting new product this year: crossword grid embossed Doc Martens. I.e. slip on sneakers, completely covered with black and white squares (and superscript numbers), no laces, such as Spiccoli wore on Fast Times at Ridgemont High (which is really worth watching again, please drop everything and do so immediately. It's stoke-a-boka). The guy wearing the Doc Martens also has knee-high white tube socks (remember the White Shadow?), which are nicely visible, due to the height of his pant leg. And a polyester green shirt. I tell you now, you will see this on Project Runway next season. "Designers, you will be creating an outfit for the crossword-savvy metrosexual... Sprechen Sie Sassy? MAKE IT WORK!"
PS. I guess it's obvious, but if you want to read these in chronological order, start from the bottom.
Answers
RAIMI
ERIQ
MADSEN
After Puzzle #1
The first one goes down easy... like a shot of whiskey, or a large spoonful of mayonnaise.
Puzzle one is always easy, but this year's was a little harder, or perhaps it is my sleep deprivation. "Smooch," four letters, ending in SS. Well, KISS, I guess, except that "sides of a doorway" (5 letters), cannot have K as its fourth letter. That one took a second look. [Answers at the bottom.]
We had the Turner who founded CNN (favoring the media-aware) and Tappan ___ Bridge, which seems a bit unfair to the KC and Lincoln contestants (although I wouldn't be surprised if the Manhattan residents have no idea either). The "aptly-name journal of the American Ornithologists' Union" (6 letters, starting with THE and ending with K) was a fun one.
Have to get back inside. More to come.
Answers:
BUSS
THE AUK
Puzzle one is always easy, but this year's was a little harder, or perhaps it is my sleep deprivation. "Smooch," four letters, ending in SS. Well, KISS, I guess, except that "sides of a doorway" (5 letters), cannot have K as its fourth letter. That one took a second look. [Answers at the bottom.]
We had the Turner who founded CNN (favoring the media-aware) and Tappan ___ Bridge, which seems a bit unfair to the KC and Lincoln contestants (although I wouldn't be surprised if the Manhattan residents have no idea either). The "aptly-name journal of the American Ornithologists' Union" (6 letters, starting with THE and ending with K) was a fun one.
Have to get back inside. More to come.
Answers:
BUSS
THE AUK
#2--before the start
I am sandwiched between Trey from Kansas City, KS and Jeanie from Lincoln, NE, both rookies. They seem pretty calm. Little do they know what is in store, after puzzle #1.
Jeanie is emailing her parents (John and Lois) the link to this blog--so from here on out, I am going to have to be Midwest-appropriate. So here's a shout-out to the 402 (you know who you are).
Trey saw Word Play, likes Will Shortz, listens to NPR--this is the core audience, folks--and does multiple crossword puzzles EVERY DAY, including USA Today (a fine Gannett publication) and the Kansas City Star. And of course the NY Times, which he gets a month late in the Star (except the Sunday puzzle, which is a week late). Which only goes to show, not EVERYTHING is up to date in Kansas City. He has brought a hand-written list of 179 tough words--led by "inure," meaning "accustom," and finishing with Uri (the famous canton in Switzerland, birthplace of William Tell).
Jeanie is an RN. Her patients are dying as we speak, but she doesn't care, because she is on a massive adrenaline rush. Trey is a health care software technology investor guy. He doesn't have to wear ties. Which will make him stand out like a sore thumb among the well-dressed, well-tailored crossword crowd here at the tourney. Anna Wintour would find much to like among the crossword grid motif-festooned hordes.
Jeanie is emailing her parents (John and Lois) the link to this blog--so from here on out, I am going to have to be Midwest-appropriate. So here's a shout-out to the 402 (you know who you are).
Trey saw Word Play, likes Will Shortz, listens to NPR--this is the core audience, folks--and does multiple crossword puzzles EVERY DAY, including USA Today (a fine Gannett publication) and the Kansas City Star. And of course the NY Times, which he gets a month late in the Star (except the Sunday puzzle, which is a week late). Which only goes to show, not EVERYTHING is up to date in Kansas City. He has brought a hand-written list of 179 tough words--led by "inure," meaning "accustom," and finishing with Uri (the famous canton in Switzerland, birthplace of William Tell).
Jeanie is an RN. Her patients are dying as we speak, but she doesn't care, because she is on a massive adrenaline rush. Trey is a health care software technology investor guy. He doesn't have to wear ties. Which will make him stand out like a sore thumb among the well-dressed, well-tailored crossword crowd here at the tourney. Anna Wintour would find much to like among the crossword grid motif-festooned hordes.
2010 Brooklyn Post #1
It's time for this year's national crossword championship. I will be blogging from the tournament, starting at about 11:30am on Saturday, Feb. 20.
For those who wish to do the crosswords from home (and you can, you know, just go to http://www.crosswordtournament.com/online/index.htm), READ NO FURTHER! There will be spoilers! Readers from prior years will know this already, since there is only so much description of idiosyncratic puzzlers that one can take, and the main attraction is the INTERESTING array of clues and answers, right?
In particular, NEIL SINGER MUST NOT PROCEED to the subsequent blog posts. Because he is missing this year's tournament, breaking our streak of 6 years (I think) of mano a mano (yes, hand to hand) competition. Because he has come up with the lamest of excuses, lamer even than the weather in DC, which is.... that he is lame. I mean literally. It's true, he fell down the stairs and broke his leg. Lamely.
For those who wish to do the crosswords from home (and you can, you know, just go to http://www.crosswordtournament.com/online/index.htm), READ NO FURTHER! There will be spoilers! Readers from prior years will know this already, since there is only so much description of idiosyncratic puzzlers that one can take, and the main attraction is the INTERESTING array of clues and answers, right?
In particular, NEIL SINGER MUST NOT PROCEED to the subsequent blog posts. Because he is missing this year's tournament, breaking our streak of 6 years (I think) of mano a mano (yes, hand to hand) competition. Because he has come up with the lamest of excuses, lamer even than the weather in DC, which is.... that he is lame. I mean literally. It's true, he fell down the stairs and broke his leg. Lamely.
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