POSITIONS OF SUPPORT: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF]
PROGRAMS: [Across Lite] [Adobe Reader]
Svelte puzzle today (just a measly 14×15), so I owe you another column some day. I’m good for it, and you know it. Anyway, enjoy.
Share the puzzle. New one on Monday.
Well, there are “supporter”s in your picture; a number of studs, a jack stud, a header, a ledger, several cripples, and three floor joists, but nary a “column” in sight. And, there is definitely not even a single “ibar”, which actually isn’t a thing as commonly clued in crosswords.
Nice puzzle; the only thing that got me was the 55A/56D crossing, where I had an R from 55A that I assumed was right because I had no clue on 56D. Got me very confused when the rest was filled and I still had an error. Aside from that, good theme, and really nice fill.
From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/I%20bar :
“a rolled iron or steel bar of I section used in construction work”
And from the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition:
“an I-beam used for structural support, as in buildings or bridges”
The Mirriam Webster definition is valid, the Random House one is not.
Bars and beams are separate and distinct structural elements. Bars resist axial loads only, while beams resist transverse and shear loads, as well as axial if needed in their application. An I-bar cannot function as a beam, which is how it is commonly clued.
This degree of imprecision in terminology is not tolerated by the X-word community in other subjects such as grammar, music, and (especially) sports.
By the way, the most common use of bars in buiding construction is as reinforcing steel. By far, the most common use for I-bars is for aluminum grating.
https://amicoglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/15-SI-2-photo.jpg
I’m always fascinated when a downloaded AcrossLite puzzle from you doesn’t want to keep track of my time, like this stubborn one. It happens maybe every 75+ puzzles and it baffles me.
Anyone with a clue as to what’s going on? And no, re-downloading it does nothing.