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July 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Stock exchange ...................................MOOS

It may be worn on a sneaker ......................TREAD

Pitching staff? ..................................ADMEN

It helped eliminate some pounds ..................EURO

Supreme leader? ..................................ROSS

Antony's loan request? ...........................EARS

June 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Street address ...................................BRO

Mark of fine writing? ............................TWAIN

Collector's items ................................DEBTS

Most ready for commitment? .......................INSANEST

It definitely isn't fast food ....................ESCARGOT

Dead giveaway? ...................................ESTATE

May 22, 2009

Follow-up Questions for Peter Gordon

Peter Gordon, who edited the NY Sun crossword before the Sun went out of business a few months ago, was interviewed by Jim Horne of the Wordplay blog a few days ago. Instead of just leaving a link to the interview, I decided to ask Peter if he'd like to answer a few follow-up questions. He graciously agreed...

It was interesting to learn that you're a math person. My perception is that there are a lot more math people interested in crossword puzzles than English / literature people. Do you agree with that perception? If so, do you have any theories as to why that is?

Everyone seems to talk about the music connection. I never bought that. Yes, seven times a winner at the ACPT has been a musician, but that's just because Jon Delfin has won it seven times. If he were a bricklayer, then would there be a crossword/bricklayer connection? The math connection seems more widespread. I was a math major. Mike Shenk was. I believe Stanley Newman was. Randolph Ross taught math. Richard Silvestri is a math professor. Bob Klahn started out as a math major, but switched to computers. There may be others. I have no theories, but I'll make two up on the spot: 1) Mathematician are used to problems with definite right answers. Crosswords appeal to that aspect of us. 2) We're used to thinking in two directions at once from all that X and Y coordinate stuff we did.

(Later, Peter confirmed that Randolph Ross, Stanley Newman, and Henry Hook were all math majors. He also pointed out that four-time ACPT champ David Rosen teaches math.)

One of the things I really enjoyed about your Sun puzzles was the abundance of clever clues. Are there some clever clues from your time there that stand out as your favorites?

I can't pick a favorite. But I remember once having to clue STREAK and spending 20 minutes working on it, looking up synonyms for "run" and "clothes," getting several near misses, knowing there was a good pun to be had. When I finally came up with {Bolt with no threads?} it was very satisfying. And in a puzzle called "E Before I" the theme was to take phrases and swap an E and an I to make new phrases, so MUCHO DINERO became MUCHO DENIRO (What you'll see if you watch "Raging Bull" followed by "Taxi Driver" followed by "The King of Comedy"?). When I thought of the theme entry NOSPRINGCHECKIN, I came up with what I thought was the perfect clue for it. See below for the answer.

You had fewer than 10 repeat clues one year! That's impressive. I bet I can guess a few of them: Jai ____, "Dies ____" (hymn), and ____ Bator. Am I correct?

These were the eight 2007 repeats:
ACTED    Trod the boards
ACTED    Trod the boards
CHERRY    Furniture wood
CHERRY    Furniture wood
DEDE    "___ Dinah" (Frankie Avalon hit)
DEDE    "___ Dinah" (Frankie Avalon hit)
EVES    Anticipatory times
EVES    Anticipatory times
HEYMA    2002 hit for Cam'ron
HEYMA    2002 hit for Cam'ron
PSST    "Hey, you!"
PSST    "Hey, you!"
SIXPM    1800
SIXPM    1800
TERI    Ben's "Meet the Fockers" costar
TERI    Ben's "Meet the Fockers" costar

These were the eleven 2008 repeats
AER    ___ Lingus
AER    ___ Lingus
ELATE    Send
ELATE    Send
ERS    Sounds of hesitation
ERS    Sounds of hesitation
ESTA    "¿Cómo ___ usted?"
ESTA    "¿Cómo ___ usted?"
FAT    Excess
FAT    Excess
HOI    ___ polloi
HOI    ___ polloi
IRA    Kaplan of Yo La Tengo
IRA    Kaplan of Yo La Tengo
NEW    Just out
NEW    Just out
OLE    ___ Miss
OLE    ___ Miss
PTS    Scoreboard nos.
PTS    Scoreboard nos.
STAB    Attempt
STAB    Attempt

The key to avoiding clues like {Jai ___} is to avoid words like ALAI. I used ALAI just 22 times in seven years (compared to 35 for the Times during weekdays in the same period), and twice JAI was elsewhere in the grid (so they were clued together). Some alternate clues were {Part of a Basque game name}, {Merry, to a Euskara speaker}, and {Half court game?}. IRAE was in the Sun only 15 times (compared to 25 in the Times), and twice DIES was elsewhere in the grid. Some alternate clues were {Requiem Mass word}, {Second word of a trochaic 13th-century hymn}, and {"... ___, dies illa"}. ULAN was in the Sun a mere seven times (compared to 15 for the Times), and once BATOR was elsewhere in the grid. Only one time did ULAN appear twice in a calendar year.

NOSPRINGCHECKIN = Sign at the Three Seasons Hotel?

Thank you, Peter Gordon, for taking the time to answer these questions for us.

If you love great crossword puzzles, this would be an excellent time to sign up for The Sun Crossword. As soon as 1776 people sign up the puzzle will start up again.

In the meantime, Mr. Gordon has been doing a weekly puzzle for The Week magazine. The good news is that this puzzle is a news junkie's dream. The bad news is that, at least for now, it doesn't print out very well. Peter does assure me that they will eventually get around to doing an AcrossLite version. I will probably add a link for this puzzle to my Links page later this evening.

May 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from April. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Contact sport? ...................................PHONETAG

Mobile home, briefly .............................ALA

Bad marks at a prep school? ......................ACNE

Tit for tat, for example? ........................TYPO

Facetious fivesome? ..............................AEIOU

Greeting you shouldn't say at the airport ........HIJACK

April 22, 2009

Crossword Protocol

You see a week old, half-finished puzzle on your mother's kitchen table. Should you finish it? Mr. Know-It-All answers this important question.

April 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from March. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Front runners? ...................................DESERTERS

Title holder .....................................SPINE

Unloaded? ........................................SOBER

Course shunned by losers? ........................DESSERT

Camel droppings ..................................ASH

Still the most ...................................CALMEST

If you need one of these explained...

March 20, 2009

Cruciverbalist? Uncle Sam Needs You

The US Government needs a few good cruciverbalists – or at least they could have used some back in 2007 and 2008. Governmentattic.org informs us that the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE) developed a series of ethics crossword puzzles to enhance ethics training for executive branch employees. According to the the OGE:

The puzzles may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, you may distribute the puzzles:

· During in-person annual ethics training

· As part of written annual ethics training during the two years in which you do not provide verbal training

· As part of a leadership initiative aimed at your agency's supervisors, encouraging them to discuss the answers with their employees at a staff meeting

· During presentations to employees

· As part of your ethics or agency newsletter.

Regrettably, the OGE apparently didn't consider hiring an experienced crossword constructor. These are not quality themed puzzles that you'll look forward to solving at the breakfast table tomorrow morning. It's too bad – with the low fees constructors demand, quality puzzles probably could have been created for half the cost.

OK, I realize your curiosity is killing you. Here are the puzzles in PDF format:

Misuse of Position

Outside Activities

Gifts

General Things You Should Know About Ethics

Seeking and Post-Employment

Grand Slam

Public Financial Disclosure

March 1, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from February. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Slinger's weapon? ................................MUD

Minor key? .......................................ISLET

Gets dark outside ................................TANS

Hamburgers are near its mouth? ...................ELBE

Frank account? ...................................DIARY

Poles on the equator, maybe? .....................EXPATS

If you need one of these explained...

February 27, 2009

Sunrise, Sunset?

No doubt, if you've been solving crosswords for more than a couple years, you realize Peter Gordon's New York Sun puzzles are among the best, if not the best. One simple criteria for testing the quality of crossword puzzles is clever cluing. Peter's Sun puzzles have won our clever clue of the month more than any other puzzle out there.

Perhaps you've also heard that the New York Sun went out of business a few months ago. Peter still had about three or four months of puzzles which he made available for a small fee.

Now, in order to continue, he'll need between 1000 and 2000 people who will commit to subscribing for a small fee. Please, please go to the Sunrise site today and make the commitment. Then, spread the word.

One more thing. If you go to the Sunrise site and make the commitment, let Mr. Gordon know that you heard about it here at crosswordese.com. It would be a tremendous encouragement to me if Peter sent me an email telling me I sent a couple hundred people his way.

February 2, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from January. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Initial hurdles for those who want to join the Supremes? ..LSATS

Numbers? .........................................OPIATES

Country 'house,' maybe? ..........................IPOD

Class that ends before labor day? ................LAMAZE

Change your locks? ...............................DYE

Elbows on the table? .............................PASTA

If you need one of these explained...

January 24, 2008

More Puzzles

I strive to have the best list of quality printable crossword puzzles on the internet. In this striving I am always on the lookout for new sources. I have just added two new sources:

Matt Gaffney is one in a very small group of crossword creators which would be considered the top tier. He provides a new puzzle every Friday afternoon. After completing a very difficult puzzle, have you ever thought, “I deserve something more than just the satisfaction of solving a hard puzzle?” Well, Mr. Gaffney does offer something more. You can send him your completed puzzle and have the chance of winning one of his books.

Another top tier creator is Brendan Emmett Quigley. This workaholic offers three puzzles a week! His site also offers musings on culture and a tip jar.

January 2, 2009

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from December. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Hall of fame .....................................DARYL

Spanish flowers? .................................RIOS

Handled ham? .....................................CBER

Defense establishment? ...........................ALIBI

Works in bed? ....................................WEEDS

Royal headwear? ..................................CAP

If you need one of these explained...

December 31, 2008

In the News

The jury's still out regarding crossword puzzles and the prevention of Alzheimer’s. But, crosswords can be healthful in other ways. Here's a story about a man who used crossword puzzles to help him quit smoking. And here's a story about a study showing that working on crossword puzzles may help reduce anxiety.

December 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from November. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Cartoon character with his own club ..............BAMMBAMM

Planet name? .....................................LOIS

Remote possibility? ..............................MUTE

Have trouble with “sisters,” maybe? ..............LISP

What an out patient may be in? ...................COMA

Something the U.S. Government keeps an eye on ....GREATSEAL

If you need one of these explained...

November 27, 2008

Grand Opening of the Crosswordese Store

Just in time for Christmas we are officially opening the Crosswordese Store (right). Here you will find some great gifts for the crossword lovers on your list. Perhaps a subscription to Games magazine... or - you've seen the movie Wordplay – now, buy the DVD and enjoy it over and over again. As a bonus, if everyone visiting this page purchases three items, your beloved web-master will be able to go to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Brooklyn in February.

November 9, 2008

In the News

Set your VCR – Merle Reagle and Will Shortz will be on the small screen next Sunday evening. It may be 'the most crossword-intensive half-hour of television in the history of America' according to the producer of the show. The producer is Tim Long of “The Simpsons” – and yes, Reagle and Shortz will actually be in an animated form. In the episode, Lisa Simpson enters a crossword competition and becomes a wordplay obsessive.

November 6, 2008

Great Puzzle Alert!

In 1996 Jeremiah Farrell and Will Shortz teamed up to give us what many consider to be the greatest crossword puzzle ever. On election day that year they gave us cluing that allowed the solver to come up with BOBDOLE_ELECTED or CLINTON_ELECTED right across the middle of the puzzle.

Two days ago Kevin Wald and Peter Gordon teamed up to create a similar puzzle – this time with a MCCAIN and OBAMA theme. There's some other stuff going on in this one, too, which makes it a real joy to solve. It's a Sun Puzzle (formerly New York Sun), so if you haven't yet subscribed, this may be the time to do it.

November 2, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

I want to thank all of those who submitted clever clues this month. I'm not able to do every puzzle every day, so I'm sure we're missing some great clues every month. Any help in this area is always appreciated.

Also, I want to thank those who helped me narrow my list of many clever clues down to six. If there are others who would like to be a part of this, please let me know.

Please vote for the best clue from October. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Monday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Flip comment? ....................................TAILS

Going places? ....................................LAVS

Unable to part? ..................................BALD

Expiration notice? ...............................OBIT

Mass-produced answer? ............................AMEN

Short pants? .....................................GASPS

If you need one of these explained...

October 23, 2008

New York Sun-set

Many of you may have noticed, as I did, during the last couple weeks the New York Sun puzzle was unavailable. For those of us addicted to this wonderful puzzle it was a difficult time. Finally, a couple nights ago I received an email from Peter Gordon, the editor of the puzzle. The bad news: the New York Sun has ceased publication. The good news: the puzzle is still available. Since Peter Gordon still has to make a living there is a modest fee now. Go to Cruciverb.com for details.

October 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

I'd like to thank everyone who helped me compile this list. Please vote for the best clue from September. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Thursday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Northern hemisphere? .............................IGLOO

Phrase that could end a single life ..............IDO

Fire insurance? ..................................TENURE

Small construction company .......................LEGO

John, to Ringo ...................................LOO

Curly poker? .....................................MOE

If you need one of these explained...

September 20, 2008

In the News

Bob Dole, discussing the Washington Post crossword with a reporter recently: “(the) crossword puzzle gets harder all the time. I can do Monday's and Friday's but all that music stuff the rest of the week screws me up.”
Wayne Robert Williams erred in a recent puzzle. His answer for Home of the Rays was TAMPA. People in St. Petersburg are furious... What is it with baseball anyway? If the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' home is St. Petersburg, why not call them the St. Petersburg Rays? And, the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles – what is that?

September 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from August. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

VW predecessors? .................................STU

Stand for something? .............................EASEL

Johnson and Johnson, e.g. ........................VEEPS

Split to be tied .................................ELOPE

Strings of islands? ..............................UKES

Average guy? .....................................DOW

If you need one of these explained...

August 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from July. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Saturday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Like most people? ................................ASIAN

Opt for the window instead of the aisle? .........ELOPE

King's realm .....................................HORROR

Nearly 29% of Tel Aviv? ..........................VEES

Bank holdup? .....................................LINE

I can come after these ...........................EFGH

If you need one of these explained...

July 31, 2008

Crossword Humor

The Crossword Fiend has alerted us in her blog of an animation, Garson Hampfield, Crossword Inker. It's hilarious – although only an avid crossword solver would think so.

July 1, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from June. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Bad spelling? ....................................HEXES

Bolt with no threads? ............................STREAK

Write of passage? ................................OBIT

Stressful type? ..................................ITALICS

Emulated running mates? ..........................ELOPED

Can opener? ......................................TOILETSEAT

If you need one of these explained...

June 16, 2008

Crosswordese.com on the radio

This past weekend we were mentioned a couple times on Public Radio. Actually, it was a re-airing of a broadcast from February. The program is A Way With Words a 'lively language show' with Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. It was fun to hear Martha quiz Grant on some of our Clever Clues.

June 2, 2008

Clever Clue of the Month

Please vote for the best clue from May. The Clever Clue of the Month will be announced Tuesday night at approximately 9:00 Central. Here are the nominees:

Rabbit relative ..................................BEETLE

One of three in Fiji? ............................DOT

It's full of holes? ..............................GOLFCOURSE

What kids grow up to be ..........................GOATS

Hearing aide? ....................................LAWYER

Having the highest queue rating? .................NEXT

If you need one of these explained...

May 26, 2008 Sound the Alarm

May 3, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

April 1, 2008 Clever Clue of the Month

March 29, 2008 Great Puzzle Alert!

March 11, 2008 Pete's Crosswordese Quiz