ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
A few weeks ago, Ben Zimmer, “On Language” columnist and all-around music-geek, emailed me the above photo with the following question: “This crossword grid (with no clues) appeared on the back cover of what 1969 classic-rock album?”
The numbering of the grid is, in a word, amazing. The top row starts off normally 1-4, but skips 5 to go right to 6. Then the drugs kick in: F-Across/-Down is directly above U-Across. 03-Down? 9- then 8- then 7- then (finally!) 5-Down. Then the repeated enumeration begins. There are two 4-Downs, as well as a 4-Across which has nothing to do with either 4-Down. Two 41-Acrosses as well as two 42-Acrosses, and, count ’em three 43-Acrosses. The obligatory: 69-Across (natch). A why-the-hell-not 113-Down. There’s two P-Downs. And since this was the ’60s, Peace-symbol-Down, positioned directly below an area that has L-, S-, and D-Acrosses.
The album is Jefferson Airplane’s “Volunteers.” Here it is in context:
And if you haven’t noticed by now, it was the inspiration for today’s grid. Share the puzzle, new one on Thursday.
That was hard, and not as much fun (for me) as some. Still I thank you for a Monday challenge.
This was measium until I got to the middle section.
113-Down and SineWave-Down crossing 37-Across was murder. PeaceSymbol-Down look a long time to suss out.
OPHIUCHUS…what the f…???
Though I did like 18A and 60A, so you’re forgiven.
My ignorance of Spanish trips me up again — QUESA instead of QUESO meant that Happy Pencil Guy refused to show up. But there’s an A in QUESADILLA, right? Restaurant menus are my sole source of Spanish words. HOHA didn’t look good, but then I don’t see how HOHO is an alternative to yodel either.
Liked 8D and 28A….
David L, think snack cakes. Hostess Ho-Hos compete with the Yodel…somewhere. I don’t know where. We don’t have Yodels in Chicago.
Amazing fill, Brendan.
Way too hard for me. Too many very obscure answers crossing in the middle. Hopeless.
OPHIUCHUS was in last week’s The Week puzzle by Peter. I didn’t remember how to spell it, but it definitely helped having seen it once before. Tough crossing with OCOTILLOS!
Did it on my phone in fits and starts, which always slows me down, but didn’t do too bad. Did have to Google to spell the astrology one, but being no fan of that claptrap, I didn’t keep good track of the “news”.
I liked 28A, though it took me a while (probably because, you know, I don’t have any). Also liked all the nutty letters scattered around.
Ophiuchus welcome in the zodiac and in this cwp. not welcome is Hujintao. Whoozdat?!?
hu jintao is the president of china.
Thank you — never heard of those Yodels. I was trying to come up with a scenario in which a Swiss guy would decide not to yodel but go for a big belly laugh instead, like an Alpine Santa…
That middle was hopeless for me, I knew that the new sign had been discussed but had no recollection of what it was. Hu I knew but not the spelling and that he was the leader of the Harmonious Society.
Loved the puzzle, not so much the ‘new’ Zodiacal sign Snuffleophicus or whatever the hell that was. I’m not up on my astrology.
Love the album cover though. Peace-sign-Down rocks. (Symmetrical puzzle, too).
Thursday’s: It was challenging. It was hard. It was clever. It was great! I had to use 2 pens!