ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ 2008 IN REVIEW]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ 2008 IN REVIEW]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
It was a good year: got married, published six books, did a load of travelling across Europe. Oh, yeah, launched this blog. So far, in just a little less than a month, the response has been so positive it’s exceeded my very modest expectations. Thanks to each and every one of you who has looked at a puzzle, posted a comment, or told a friend about the site. It really means a lot.
2009 is looking good too. I got (count ’em) nine books coming out this year, including one not-too-be-missed collection of Diagramless puzzles. My band, The Boston Typewriter Orchestra, has got some crazy already lining up. Oh, and this site is just getting warmed up. Should be adding new features over the next couple months.
Just going to throw out a couple resolutions out here right now:
1. I promise to continue to boggle your minds with these puzzles.
2. I also promise to do more outrageous and more left-of-center puzzles. You know, the ones you won’t find in your father’s newspaper.
3. Somehow, someway, I will finish one of “the big three books” I’ve tried repeatedly in the past to read, but gave up for various reasons. The novels in questions are (in no particular order) “Ulysses,” “Moby Dick,” and “Gravity’s Rainbow.”
4. Loads more duplicate Bridge this year. My Bridge partner, Ned, and I kick mucho ass in the Nationals this year and we gotta keep it going.
5. Will I stop talking about becoming an amateur photo-realist painter, and start becoming one? Signs point to “definitely maybe.”
6. This is the year I’m going skydiving. I swear to God.
Okay, so we’re in Paris now (if you couldnt’ tell from the above picture). So enough of this internet cafe stuff. Enjoy this puzzle. See you next year.
Thanks for adding to the online puzzle landscape. Your puzzles are a real pleasure. See you in February.
rp
SAFE SEX for [Rubber match, perhaps] is a fantastic clue! Thanks for the laugh.
Of the three books you’re attempting to get through, Moby Dick is the only one that I’ve managed. I abandoned Ulysses and never attempted Gravity’s Rainbow. I generally don’t make resolutions, but I’m determined to finally read War and Peace. As a former Russian major who has devoured scores of Russian novels I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read it. I’ve got to at least give it a good try. The translation I want is available on Kindle, so at least I won’t have a 1,200 page tome to wrestle with.
Wow, that’s a career year. If you were a baseball player that’d translate to a .330 BA with 45 HR.
In 2009 I wanna see you hit for the cycle!
Metaphor breaking down, I better go.
Thanks so much for your blog and the puzzles. I resolve to visit your tip jar once the Christmas bills are paid. As a fellow bridge player, hope to see you in Gatlinburg – ACBL’s biggest regional. Happy New Year!
I liked SAFESEX, too. I had a hard time figuring it out, because I forgot where I was for a minute. Definitely not a NYT clue/answer.
One thing I think might be a mistake: NENES is clued “Spanish babes.” Was this at one time “ninos” and the clue never got changed? Or is my Spanish weaker than I thought?
And maybe a small typo: Should “Singer India” have a period after it? I never heard of her (him?), so I don’t know.
At any rate, I’m glad RP sent me to this site. I look forward to your mysterious improvements-to-come.
Nice one. For a minute I thought SAFESEX was going to be GAMESIX, although I couldn’t see how that would be break any ties.
I love these puzzles – thanks so much for making them and posting them.
India.Arie is how she spells her name. She has a lovely voice and is one of the few female singers out there who doesn’t resort to hoochie mamma tactics to make herself popular.
Love the puzzle. Rubber match completely threw me for the same reason mentioned by jannieb.
dude, more bridge. my partner & i had a shite nationals, but we play every week at MIT, and according to the website, a brendon (sic) quigley used to play there too. come on back!
this was my favorite BEQ puzzle since #1. keep it up in 2009!
@treedweller: According to the dictionary at WordReference.com, nene = “niño pequeño”. The feminine form is “nena”. And I have to admit that’s a lot more interesting than yet another Hawaiian goose clue.
Totally read Moby Dick first. Unless you’re Irish, then read Ulysses first. Have a great ’09. Thanks for the free puzzies!
Joon: Ned’s been in school and I was in a touring band for years so Tuesdays were tough for us. Having said that, we’re looking into coming back to the fold. You MIT players kicked our asses but good.
Let me park my big rig in your garage naughty