ACROSS LITE PUZZLE:
[ THEMELESS WEDNESDAY]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS WEDNESDAY]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
Another stellar turnout for what was, to me, the most entertaining contest to adjudicate yet. We got 99 entries, most of them correct. But as an added twist I awarded a prize to the most original contest entries. First, let’s go over the meta.
Last Friday’s puzzle seemed to be straightforward enough. I said there were three obvious themed entries: GENERAL MILLS, BANG FOR ONE’S BUCK, and PATRICK BERRY, and that “the fourth member of that particular group is hidden elsewhere in another answer.” And when I said “group,” I meant “[rock] group.” You see, the last words in each of the theme answers are the last names of the members of R.E.M. You might recognize that band from your crosswording in such clues as {“The ___ Love” (R.E.M. hit)} and {R.E.M. vocalist Michael}. Speaking of Michael, he was hidden in 19-Down STIPEND, which was the answer to this contest. I might have joked about making a puzzle with this theme (sort of) back in February, but I was just spouting nonsense then. Whatever, it pays to pay attention to the ramblings. Today’s verbal diarrhea is tomorrow’s theme.
A couple people chimed in to mention that they were stymied with the title (“Georgia on My Mind”) and the fact that the “Crossword Jesus” in the puzzle (PATRICK BERRY) lives in Georgia. I believe they were looking for other GA-related things in the puzzle. Fun Patrick Berry fact: he lives in Athens, the very same town R.E.M. hails from, and within spitting distance of Weaver D’s, the restaurant that spawned the title for R.E.M.’s album “Automatic For the People.” (Stalkers: take note!)
Although he did get it right, this incorrect answer is also worth mentioning. Pete Rimkus of Ashford, CT writes: “Finally got it … That’s after using both Bing and Google and finding out that General MILLS teamed up with PillsBURY and actually created something known as ‘Millsberry Bucks.’ What are the odds a BEQ puzzle would celebrate breakfast cereal … so I kept looking.” Breakfast cereal. There’s a theme in there, methinks.
Okay on to the eye-catching contest entries. Chicagoland’s Amy Reynaldo displayed some HTML skills, while Crooklyn’s own Ken Stern sent me a singing telegram. Nice job, guys.
We also had a few aspiring puzzlemakers too. Chris Battey, of Parts Unknown, entered the contest with his own cryptic-style clue: {Tricky way to use cash money for living expenses (7)}. Not to be outdone, AppleJack1963, also from Parts Unknown, sent this cryptic clue: {Hint in lower-right corner of the grid leads to “Radio Song” singer (5)}. I think that clues STIPE, not STIPEND, but, whatever. Lastly, Jeff Dubner, also from Parts Unknown, sent in a whole crossword (!) as his entry. Do it here: [Across Lite] [PDF]. Jeff knows how to butter me up by referencing the Pavement song about R.E.M. in his title (listen to it here). What is up with all the people of Parts Unknown and puzzle writing? Must be something in the water.
Have I mentioned that I got a few deliveries? In my post on Friday, I joked that someone should order me a pizza and send their entry that-a-way. Eric Maddy of Huntington Beach, CA, did just that. Here’s the receipt:
I will admit it was slightly difficult to eat the pizza cuz my jaw was on the floor over that one. But have no fear, I was able to eat it.
Equally surprising was that Kurt Krauss of Columbus, OH, sent my wife flowers. (That’s her displaying her approval of said entry to the right) Kurt writes: “Liz, This is for you. I don’t know how you put with BEQ. You must be a saint.” Kurt, let me assure you, she most definitely is. Henceforth, my wife will be referred to as “St. Liz.”
But despite St. Liz’s best efforts of convincing me that Kurt deserved the prize for most creative entry, the one I was most impressed with came from Eric Peterson, also of Parts Unknown from Fort Lauderdale, FL. His entry was the brilliant send-up of the album cover for “Reckoning” that appeared above this here recap of the contest. The leap from “R.E.M.” to “B.E.Q.” is priceless. Thanks, Eric. I liked your entry so much, I’m going to be offering the “Reckoning” parody t-shirts in the souvenir shoppe, uh, shortly.
Oh, the winner of the regular contest is Brian Kulman. Congrats to Brian and Eric. And thanks to all who competed.
Share the puzzle. New one on Friday.
There is no way I could have even begun to figure this out, but what a great contest and what wonderfully clever followers! Now, how about a musical theater or a Jane Austin theme?
brutal puzzle today. DNF. i gave up after 11 minutes with 3 blank squares in the headline. never heard of 2d, 3d, 21d, 28d, or 23a, so the whole top was just a struggle.
UHF, HFF, PFFT. Keep this up and I’m gonna raise sand, whatever the heck that means. DNF
What would I know about some chick who lives in Texas?
I’m with Joon on the “never heard of”s (or “NHO”s).
I suspected sinister was up when I got as far as YAHOO_ on 9D, but it wouldn’t let me type ‘!’ in AcrossLite.
I did set a Personal Best, though…for use of the ‘Reveal’ button.
Darnit, I forgot to send in my answer. Sorry! Congrats eP…
Wow, if Joon had to DNF it on mostly the same spots I did, then I don’t feel so bad 🙂 I had nothing above 26A and nothing left of 5D except TIRAMISU. And I didn’t know the SHEA/TRENET crossing.
Whoo-hoo! A contest winner is me! (Parts Unknown = Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Solving the metapuzzle was my first a-ha! moment. Noticing the parallelism between “R.E.M.” and “B.E.Q.” was the second.
Album covers I considered for my contest entry, all of which I rejected for not having good-enough Photoshop skills to make them work:
DEAD LETTER OFFICE – Rewrite the title as “GRID LETTER OFFICE” and maybe add a crossword overlay. But I didn’t think the album of B-sides was well-known enough.
DOCUMENT – Change the upper left corner to read “BEQ 219” instead of “REM 5” and change the title to “STIPEND”.
LIFES RICH PAGEANT – Change the top half to the top of BEQ’s head and the title to “LIFES RICH STIPEND”.
ACCELERATE – Might have been able to pull it off, but I wanted to use an album on which Bill Berry appeared since he appeared in the puzzle.
AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE – Change title to “CROSSWORDS FOR THE PEOPLE”. Although the title refers to a restaurant in Athens, the actual image is of a sign on top of the Sinbad Motel in Miami Beach, about 30 minutes away from me. The motel is still there, so I toyed with the idea of driving down and taking my own photo, but Hurricane Andrew removed the star shortly after the album came out.
That left RECKONING as the only real choice. Plus its design had the added advantage of allowing me to work all of the theme entries into the image.
Too bad STIPE isn’t a common word that would have worked in one of the three main theme entries. It would have been extra cool to have the three main entries refer to the current three members of the band and leave BERRY as the hidden entry.
I am skipping down past the comments as I just now got home to print out the Wednesday puzzle.
The Contest:
Loved the write-up, but feel actually relieved that the meta-puzzle was some stupid rock band that I would not recognize if they serenaded me on the front porch. NO chance, no clue. (Hey, fair is fair. I realize that rockers and the people who love them have equal opportunity under the law to consume vast amounts of our natural resources…)
For your entertainment: I looked at FORREST GUMP (was that movie set in Georgia?) and then I homed in on FORREST (a Civil War GENERAL)… and while I knew he said the winner was the one ‘who got there firstest with the mostest’ I did wonder if he also coined the ‘bang for a buck’ phrase. This is what desperation can do–pitiful.
I think the Sainted Liz was correct in her choice of Winner, and the fact that you over-rode her recommendation: isn’t this just one more instance of male domination? Just sayin’….
So Bangs isn’t Lester. . .
I like that.
The last few characters of 26A were the easiest part of this puzzle! There were a lot of stumpers and I never heard of 2D. Good times, as always.
I really liked today’s puzzle. The words that I didn’t know either crossed with ones I did, or happened to look right enough to be pretty sure about. And despite knowing nothing about cricket, I got 54A from the title of an Elizabeth George mystery novel.
There are now two bands that I know all the members names: the Beatles and REM!
@elaine
My tenuous connection of “bangforabuck” to Georgia was that the Atlanta Hawks were playing the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA playoffs. I am so glad that that was not correct.
I feel dumb. I LIVE in Athens, and didn’t get the answer.
I know REM but, alas, the only member I know by name is STIPE, so there was no way I was going to get Fri.’s theme.
Re Wed: I also missed the three symbol squares in 26a. I figured the answer required a symbol and put a * in at 28d. But, not knowing the three crosses left me with 3 errors. Still, a very interesting/clever puzzle.
“Parts Unknown” is the Seattle area, for me. Glad you liked it! (My other idea was something along the lines of “Ship around a clue answering etc.”, along the same lines as AppleJack’s TIP inclusion, but I thought the wording was a bit wonky.)
It’s June 19, 2023. I can’t bring up the “Previous” puzzle nor any earlier ones. Your links are broken.