ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ QUESTIONS FOR THE DEATH PANEL]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ QUESTIONS FOR THE DEATH PANEL]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
I got the idea for this one from a suggestion left in the comments section. So consider this another blog announcement: if you have any brilliant ideas for themes/entries/homages/etc., please feel free to leave them in the comments section. In fact I encourage it! I’m (generally) always up for a good challenge. This is a completely interactive blog. I’m here to entertain you, as you are here to entertain me. So any/all suggestions are welcomed.
I used to do improv comedy in college. That meant I stood on stage and had to sculpt rib-tickling humor on the fly out of audience suggestions all the time. Every week we could count on some brilliant people who thought they were being original by suggesting we do skits based on “Star Trek” and/or “gynecology.” Might have been funny the first time, but four years of it, not so much.
This is not an invitation to request “Star Trek” or gynecological puzzles. They’re aren’t happening.
Stalkers take note: I’m leaving for a whirlwind trip to NYC shortly; specifically to go to Ryan and Brian’s Lollapuzzoola. And why aren’t you going? Like I said, loads of puzzle celebrities are going to be in the house. There are rumored appearances from crossword god Will Shortz (and lesser deities like Rex Parker). And, yeah, did I mention I have a puzzle in the tournament? You’d better have a good excuse for not going (here, I’ll spot you one: Hurricane Bill). Should be a blast. Anyway, full report from the event will be posted here on Monday.
Share the puzzle!
Really fun puzzle today, Brendan — I enjoyed it a great deal!
You got it M-squared.
Aw, I guess I’ll just have to MAKE a Star Trek puzzle.
Correction: FLINT is merely the *original* headquarters of GM (it’s currently DETROIT, though there had been some talk about moving it this year).
Suggestion-wise, I’d say that the birther movement would be a nice companion theme to this one, if you can manage something similarly politically hands-off.
And for a themeless OR a special theme, I always like to see answers with unusual characters like DISTRICT9 or MICHAEL&MICHAEL. (I know: others hate them, I’m sure– but others hate the quote puzzles, too.) I think they translate to online solving much better than multi-letter rebuses do.
Interesting point. Will have to mull that one over a bit, but I do believe you can add a few letters to on-line puzzle squares.
Heard good things about “District 9.” Anybody see it?
Fun puzzle. Nice and easy–I nailed it. Killed it. Stabbed it with my pen and left it bleeding ink all over the grown.
hey sorry to miss lollapuzzoola this weekend, but I may be out in brooklyn sat nite–text me when you’re in.
Dude, every other trip down I would. But this is strictly a get-in, get-out trip as I’m leaving for the Cape on Sunday. Boo hoo. I think Liz and I will be there in the Fall, so maybe then?
A hardcore sci-fi nut from my high school class reported on Facebook that “District 9” was excellent. Me, I haven’t seen it.
A fun, easy ride today. Thanks – I’m still campaigning for an online chat theme – twitterati, pornbot, tweets, etc. Seems like it would fit your demographics pretty well. Even IM shorthand could be fun, IMHO
Hey, glad to hear you’re coming down… Looking forward to seeing you guys!
PORNBOT is kinda funny.
You beat me to it! As you noted, GM was founded in Flint, has it’s HQ in Detroit, most of the vehicle engineering (where I am sitting) in Warren, proving grounds (where people like me get to destroy cars for a living) in Milford, and powertrain engineering in Pontiac. Just a little SE Michigan / GM geography lesson for everyone.
It’s good!
Fun puzzle, and easy as advertised. Though I just can’t type as fast as some people, apparently. But the 38D-33D thing really tickled me. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that trick before.
Have fun in NYC and Nantucket!
I was breezing along until the rappers clue, figured that would do me in, but somehow I had heard of the Fugees. I liked the bowling cross-clues.
Regarding the Death Panel, I would like to be on it. There are a few politicians I would like to blow away. Any idea how I sign up?
I like the funny morbid theme. And I really liked the NARNIA clue.
Since you’re on Cape next week, there are still tickets available for the Steve Miller Band in Hyannis next Friday.
ITS CURTAINS was rad.
Michael & Michael is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows. I couldn’t believe the “Fork” sketch they did made it past censors.
I’ll second that. And usually I have some kind of nitpicky problem with one clue or so, but this one felt like good clean fill all over.
I’d like to thank George Costanza for helping me remember Mantle’s number.
Everyone who enjoyed this puzzle needs to check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wetN3qC87mg
THe Mickey Mantle reference was timely as I just saw the Seinfel episode where George wants to name his kid Seven.
I loved this one: it made me laugh. The fact that I was actually able to solve it, well, I’m sure that helped. 😉
How about “You want me to put that ammo in my mouth?” (13)
Now that I think of it, BITE THE BULLET has nothing to do with dying.
I attribute it to a long work week. It’s PBR time!
Ooh! Ooh! What about a John Hughes tribute?
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Lollapuzzoola! 🙂
Since you had “Dog of crosswords” the other day, I’ve been thinking, why not a puzzle consisting entirely of clichés? Asta, errs, eerie, leis, and so on.
Of course, I imagine all the good clues for these words were used up a long time ago. So this might be more fun as a cryptic crossword, using wordplay rather than straight clues.
Great puzzle! That’s three top-notch puzzles this week…awesome job! I loved the clue for HINT.
Sorry to miss the ‘puzzoola tomorrow…I have plans, ironically enough, in Queens …but I will send you a telepathic intra-borough fist-bump at around 4.
Likewise for me–thanks George! As for ITS CURTAINS–brought to mind a favorite old Warner Bros cartoon, where Bugs is dragooned into helping out Edward G Robinson on the lam from the cops–anyone know the one? “Aw, they’re adorable…”
I think you would make an excellent Death Panel member, BEQ!
Have fun at the tournament and on the Cape. Earlier this summer, I noticed bicycle trails and facilities around Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, by the way.
theme: proposed cooking- and sports-related alternative-rock band names, e.g. —
BURNT JOCKSTRAP (football)
TOASTED RACKETS (tennis)
STEAMING DIVOTS (polo)
KarmaS: ya got me. I think I’d make a great Lord High Executioner.
Have we already covered how much I hate Steve Miller? Wild horses couldn’t drag me there.
FWIW: that was the first entry once I had the idea of Questions for the Death Panel.
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
(Mental note for everybody in the future when posting links, please use is.gd or bit.ly or any other url shortening system. Thanks. Signed, the management)
Been doing some work lately on the Yankees. Mantle was aptly named, it seems.
Thanks, Aaron.
Give this man a beer.
Jimmy: I got the telepathic fist bump, but at first I interpreted it as my cellphone vibrating saying I got the message.
My motto as Death Panel member: no bias, no bull.
I’ve seen way too many punk rock shows where the flyer has band names that resemble these. Jus’ sayin’