ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
Tip of the hat to Pete Wentz for the seed entry in this one. No, not that Pete Wentz, silly. I’ll leave the proof up to the reader as to which one was the seed, you only have 68 entries to choose from.
Oh, and say hello to the latest BEQ.com Fan o’ the Moment: Thomas Warne of Bridport, England. Fun fact: Thom’s neighbor is P. J. Harvey. Anyway, Thom was vacationing in Oman, of all places, and stumbled upon my uncle. Or at least somebody who looks exactly like my uncle. He writes: “Not sure what the story is really, other than I just wanted to out do some of your super fans! The photos are all taken in Oman, which all sounds rather exotic and it was I suppose. BEQ in the Middle East! I missed a few great opportunities to get a camel photo as I didn’t have the shirt on. Shame.” Yeah, it was a shame indeed. But no matter, for his bravado, and formidable mugging-for-the-camera skills, he gets a copy of my “Diagramless” book. Everyone else: keep your photos and stories coming!
Share the puzzle. New one on Wednesday.
At first I thought that was your second picture of Steve Coogan.
I really liked this one a lot! A ton of great entries…
Couldn’t finish. NW was unsolvable for me. So many proper nouns, almost none of which I’d heard of. Really unpleasant way to go down.
I agree with Rex on the NW; pretty tough slogging going on there. But still an enjoyable challenge on a Monday.
I’m guessing JIHAD JANE was the seed; ZOOLANDER would be my second guess.
Favorite clue: 24d. Also liked 20a a lot, and 10a provided a nice penny-drop.
Great great great. Although I missed the NW too, I thought it was completely fair once I punked out and hit reveal.
I should have gotten JEZEBEL after which JIHAD JANE would have fallen and then ZEROED OUT.
Total head-scratcher made this one — off and on while at work — about an hour (+) long slog. ORIFLAMME, ENFAMILLE, ASHCAKE (and I’m from the Louisiana) were unknown to me before today — as were the proper names: NAURU, EMANUELAX, HARTLEY, MCARDLE, ELENI. Tough, but not a real joy. Sorry.
Most of the north was a bear I couldn’t wrassle. I did manage MCARDLE but ditto Lon above, otherwise. Still, love the tough Mondays. Thanks
oriflamme was a killer
Oriflamme was fine by me, took me back to my high-school days as a gamer (shudder). But I agree with lon; this one was just too esoteric to be enjoyable.
Hmmmm, its been a while…
Some cool fill, but unsolvable for me. Got me good today, BEQ. ORIFLAMME, JIHAD JANE, the Titanic clue, and the French phrase at the bottom were just too much to overcome. Also didn’t know the 1st line of that damn song.
At least I know I didn’t have a shot in hell of figuring the rest out ;).
The rest of the puzzle fell nicely for a hard puzzle, right in a good difficulty wavelength. Good job, all you intrepid solvers that made it through!
Very nice! I was able to complete it but only after a lot of staring and head-scratching. Happy coincidence that I heard a “Fresh Air” interview with Ben Stiller this afternoon where “Zoolander” was mentioned.
I was hoping that Billy Joel would be the pianist that has won seven Grammys. But he’s only won six (“only”).
Alas, couldn’t finish without a little help from Mr. Google.
Just getting to this today (Wednesday). A hard one, for sure, but managed to complete (correctly, no help) in about 13 1/2. That short area across the middle was the last to fall. I’ve heard of ORIFLAMME but couldn’t have told you what it meant.
If anyone’s still here…
A little over 40 min…
Wow! Hardest BEQ ever(?)! Yet satisfying so… Only things that came easily: ANOS, EROTICART, TAL, ORIFLAMME (in contrast to everyone else), OFFS, MORSELS… A weird collection for sure.
Things I kept writing the wrong thing for: PICTS (CELTS no ICENI no, Gaagh! Give up, go somewhere else). Off the O KUDOS @ 9D – not EXTOL. 25A off the G – ORANGE not ENERGY. Confidently off the bat put down USTERRITORY for 23A – guessing that was a deliberate dupe? 27A – had LILITH off the L, two vampires that’re 6-letters and big with L!!!
Things I knew I knew but refused to come to mind – LEYDENJAR (that town in Holland, gack! Try somewhere else. And when I did get it it had an I in it too!) and HEYJEALOUSY.
Most brutal: NW. But I did finish!! Never heard of 1-, 15-, 17A, Or 3D as clued… When returned had 4, 7, 8, 9D. Eventually puzzle 5 & 6. Lots more staring unearthed IMEMINE… Had no idea about the show @19A. Sounded like could be IMPS but that didn’t go anywhere! EMUS was not plausible, but EMOS held out hope, only it was false. Lots more staring: 1D, remember 22A, guessed an H, puzzled out 3D…
Actually did this bastard, though the last area took nearly 15 minutes on its own! Whoa!